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 13 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 (13)

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).

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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