Are these screening tools diagnostic?

No. Screening tools like PHQ-9 and GAD-7 identify individuals who may have a condition and should be evaluated further. They are not diagnostic instruments. A positive screen should be followed by a comprehensive clinical assessment by a qualified mental health professional.

How often should mental health screening be done?

The USPSTF recommends universal depression screening for all adults in primary care. PHQ-2 can be used as an initial screen at every visit, with PHQ-9 administered if the PHQ-2 is positive. For patients in treatment, repeat screening every 2–4 weeks helps monitor progress.

What is the difference between PHQ-9 and PHQ-2?

PHQ-2 is a two-item ultra-brief screen that asks about depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest). It serves as a quick first step. If the PHQ-2 score is ≥3, the full PHQ-9 (nine items) should be administered for severity assessment and treatment monitoring.

Mental Health Screening Tools

Validated screening instruments for depression (PHQ-9, PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-7, GAD-2), alcohol use (AUDIT, CAGE), postpartum depression (EPDS), PTSD (PCL-5), and suicide risk assessment (C-SSRS). For clinical screening and self-assessment.

This category currently includes 35 tools, including PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PHQ-2.

These resources are built for screening workflows in primary care, behavioral health settings, and self-monitoring conversations. Use the results as decision support and pair them with full clinical context and local guidelines.

All Mental Health Tools (35)

PHQ-9

Free PHQ-9 depression screening questionnaire. Take the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression severity with instant scoring and interpretation. Also screen for anxiety with [GAD-7](/tools/gad7).

GAD-7

Free GAD-7 anxiety screening questionnaire. Take the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale to assess anxiety severity with instant scoring and interpretation. Also screen for depression with [PHQ-9](/tools/phq9).

PHQ-2

Quick two-question depression screen using the PHQ-2. A score of 3 or higher suggests further evaluation with the full [PHQ-9](/tools/phq9).

GAD-2

Quick two-question anxiety screen using the GAD-2. A score of 3 or higher suggests further evaluation with the full [GAD-7](/tools/gad7).

AUDIT

Screen for hazardous and harmful alcohol use with the 10-question AUDIT. Scores range from 0 to 40 across four risk zones. For quick screening use [CAGE](/tools/cage).

CAGE

Quick four-question alcohol screening using the CAGE questionnaire. A score of 2 or more suggests possible alcohol problems. For comprehensive screening, use [AUDIT](/tools/audit).

AUDIT-C

Rapid 3-question alcohol-use screen to identify hazardous drinking patterns.

CAGE-AID

Screen for problematic alcohol or drug use with the 4-item CAGE-AID questionnaire.

DAST-10

Screen non-alcohol drug-use problems using the 10-item Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10).

ASRS v1.1

Screen for adult ADHD symptoms using the 6-item ASRS v1.1 Part A screener.

Fagerstrom Test

Estimate nicotine dependence severity with the 6-item Fagerstrom Test.

SBQ-R

Screen suicide-risk signal using the 4-item Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R).

HAM-A

Rate clinician-observed anxiety severity using the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.

HADS

Screen anxiety and depression symptom burden using the 14-item HADS (HADS-A + HADS-D).

PSS-10

Measure perceived stress burden over the past month using the 10-item PSS-10.

YMRS

Rate manic symptom severity with the clinician-rated 11-item Young Mania Rating Scale.

GDS-15

Screen depressive symptoms in older adults using the 15-item GDS-15 yes/no questionnaire.

K10 Distress

Measure non-specific psychological distress over the past 4 weeks using the 10-item K10 scale.

OCI-R

Screen obsessive-compulsive symptom burden using the 18-item OCI-R across six symptom domains.

PHQ-4

Rapid 4-item screen combining PHQ-2 and GAD-2 to triage depression and anxiety burden.

WHO-5

Measure recent positive well-being with the 5-item WHO-5 index and percentage score.

K6 Scale

Screen serious psychological distress using the 6-item K6 scale.

UCLA Loneliness-3

Screen perceived social loneliness with the brief 3-item UCLA loneliness scale.

EPDS

Screen for postnatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Scores of 10 or higher suggest possible depression.

PCL-5

Screen for PTSD using the PCL-5 checklist. Score ranges from 0 to 80; a score of 31-33 or higher suggests probable PTSD.

C-SSRS Screener

Screen for suicidal ideation and behavior using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale screener version. Assesses risk level based on ideation severity.

MoCA Score

Interpret Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. The leading cognitive screening tool for mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

MDI Depression Scale

Screen for depression using the WHO-endorsed Major Depression Inventory (MDI). A 10-item self-report questionnaire scoring 0–50.

MMSE Score

Interpret Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. The classic cognitive screening test for dementia, scoring 0–30.

BDI-II Score

Interpret Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) total scores. One of the most widely cited depression severity measures, scoring 0–63.

CIWA-Ar

Estimate alcohol withdrawal severity with the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, revised (CIWA-Ar).

COWS Score

Estimate opioid withdrawal severity using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).

MDQ Screener

Screen for bipolar-spectrum symptom patterns using the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) criteria framework.

ISI Score

Assess insomnia burden with the 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and classify symptom severity.

Opioid Risk Tool

Screen risk of opioid misuse with the Opioid Risk Tool before initiating long-term opioid therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

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