Printed on 3/17/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) is an ultra-brief depression screening tool consisting of the first two items of the PHQ-9. It asks about the frequency of depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure) over the past two weeks. Each item is scored 0-3, yielding a total score of 0-6. A score of 3 or higher has a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 92% for major depression, making it an effective first-step screener. Patients who screen positive should be further evaluated with the full [PHQ-9](/tools/phq9). For anxiety screening, use [GAD-2](/tools/gad2) or [GAD-7](/tools/gad7).
Formula: Total score = sum of 2 items (each 0-3). Range 0-6. Positive screen ≥ 3.
Rate how often you've experienced depressed mood and loss of interest/pleasure over the past 2 weeks using a 0-3 scale: not at all, several days, more than half the days, or nearly every day.
Your two answers are summed for a total score from 0 to 6. This takes less than 30 seconds to complete.
A score of 3 or higher is a positive screen (83% sensitivity, 92% specificity) and should prompt the full PHQ-9 or a clinical interview for comprehensive evaluation.
Family physicians & internists
Include the PHQ-2 on intake forms for all new patients. Its brevity (under 30 seconds) makes universal screening practical without adding significant time to appointments.
ED nurses & physicians
Quickly screen patients presenting with somatic complaints that may have an underlying depressive component. The PHQ-2 can be asked verbally during triage in under a minute.
Preventive care teams
The USPSTF recommends depression screening for all adults. PHQ-2 meets this requirement efficiently, flagging patients who need the full PHQ-9 follow-up.
Behavioral health integrators
Pair PHQ-2 with GAD-2 for a 4-question screen covering both depression and anxiety—the two most common mental health conditions in primary care—in under 2 minutes.
University health centers
Screen large numbers of students during orientation, health visits, or counseling intake. Positive screens are triaged to full assessment without overwhelming resources.
Individuals wondering about mood
If you're wondering whether what you're feeling might be depression, the PHQ-2 provides a quick, evidence-based starting point before seeking professional help.
The PHQ-2 specifically asks about the last 2 weeks. Don't include symptoms from months ago or chronic baseline feelings—answer based on the recent period.
While 3+ is the clinical cutoff, a score of 2 with concerning context may still warrant the full PHQ-9, especially if the patient has risk factors or clinical suspicion.
Depression and anxiety often co-occur. The PHQ-2 + GAD-2 combination (4 questions total) screens for both conditions in under 2 minutes.
The PHQ-2 has 83% sensitivity, meaning 17% of people with depression may screen negative. If clinical suspicion is high, proceed to the full PHQ-9 regardless of the score.
Depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest/pleasure) are the two core symptoms required for a depression diagnosis. If either is absent, major depression is unlikely.
Don't use the PHQ-2 to track treatment response. The full PHQ-9 is better for monitoring because it captures more symptoms and has greater sensitivity to change.
Recent life stressors, grief, or adjustment to medical diagnoses can elevate scores temporarily. Clinical judgment determines whether positive screens reflect clinical depression or normal reactions.
Bringing a completed PHQ-2 to your appointment gives your provider objective data and can make it easier to discuss symptoms you might otherwise not mention.
Your PHQ-2 score ranges from 0 to 6 and reflects the frequency of the two core symptoms of depression: depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure). A score of 0-2 is considered a negative screen, suggesting that clinically significant depression is unlikely at this time. A score of 3 or higher is a positive screen, indicating that further evaluation with the full PHQ-9 or a clinical interview is warranted.
A positive PHQ-2 does not mean you have depression. It means these two cardinal symptoms are present frequently enough to merit a more thorough assessment. Conversely, a negative screen does not absolutely exclude depression, as some patients with depression may not endorse these specific core symptoms prominently. The PHQ-2 has a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 92% for major depressive disorder at the cutoff of 3.
The PHQ-2 is ideal for rapid, first-pass depression screening in settings where time is limited or where screening large numbers of patients is necessary. Common use cases include primary care intake forms, emergency department triage, annual wellness visits, and pre-surgical assessments. It is also appropriate for community-based screening programs and population health initiatives.
Because of its brevity (two questions), it can be administered verbally in under 30 seconds or included on a written intake questionnaire without significantly adding to patient burden. When paired with the GAD-2, these four questions provide a quick screen for both depression and anxiety, the two most common mental health conditions in primary care.
The PHQ-2 captures only two of the nine DSM criteria for major depressive disorder and therefore lacks the depth to characterize symptom severity, track treatment response, or detect the full range of depressive symptoms. It should always be followed by the full PHQ-9 or a clinical interview when the screen is positive.
The PHQ-2 may miss depression in patients whose primary symptoms are somatic (fatigue, insomnia, appetite changes) rather than mood-based. It may also miss patients with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) who have adapted to a low-grade depressed mood and do not recognize it as abnormal. Cultural differences in how sadness and pleasure are expressed and reported can also affect accuracy.
As with all self-report tools, the PHQ-2 is subject to response bias. Patients may underreport symptoms due to stigma, desire to appear well, or lack of insight into their emotional state.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.
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).
Mental HealthFree 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).
Mental HealthQuick two-question anxiety screen using the GAD-2. A score of 3 or higher suggests further evaluation with the full [GAD-7](/tools/gad7).