Sometimes, sadness feels like a heavy blanket you just can’t shake off. You might tell yourself you’re just tired, or that “everyone feels this way.” But how do you know when “the blues” might actually be something more significant, like clinical depression?
In medical settings, doctors often don’t have time for hour-long interviews. They need a fast, accurate way to spot the red flags. That is where the PHQ-2 comes in.
The Science: The Power of Two Questions
The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) is considered the “first line of defense” in mental health screening. It distills the diagnostic criteria for depression down to its two core components:
- Anhedonia: The loss of interest or pleasure in doing things.
- Depressed Mood: Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless.
Research published in The Journal of General Internal Medicine confirms that these two questions alone are remarkably effective at ruling out depression. If you answer “not at all” to both, it is highly unlikely you are currently suffering from a major depressive disorder. If you answer positively, it signals a need to dig deeper.
The Tool: PHQ-2
This test is private, incredibly short, and serves as an excellent “temperature check” for your emotional well-being. It asks about your frequency of symptoms over the last two weeks.
👉 Take the Test: PHQ-2 Depression Screen
What To Do With Your Score
- Low Score (0-2): It is likely you are not experiencing major depression right now. However, if you still feel “off,” consider looking at other factors like stress or burnout.
- High Score (3+): This is a “positive screen.” It doesn’t mean you definitely have depression, but it strongly suggests you should take a more comprehensive test (like the PHQ-9) or speak with a healthcare provider.
- Next Step: If you scored high, we recommend taking the PHQ-9 (coming soon) or the PHQ-4 for a slightly more detailed look at both anxiety and depression.
Safety & Disclaimer
This tool is for educational purposes only and is not a medical diagnosis.
- Emergency Warning: If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, please stop taking this test and call your local emergency number or a suicide prevention hotline immediately (e.g., 988 in the US, or 14416 in India).
References
- Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (2003). The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: Validity of a two-item depression screener. Medical Care.
- Löwe, B., Kroenke, K., & Gräfe, K. (2005). Detecting and monitoring depression with a two-item questionnaire (PHQ-2). Journal of Psychosomatic Research.
- Arroll, B., et al. (2010). Validation of the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 to screen for major depression in the primary care population. Annals of Family Medicine.