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Anxiety and depression quick screen (PHQ-4)

Four questions for a quick look at anxiety and depression symptoms over the last two weeks.

4 items · About 1 min

Some questions ask about low mood and thoughts of self-harm. If you are struggling right now, the helplines are at the bottom of the page. Need someone to talk to?

How to answerOver the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

  1. Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge
  2. Not being able to stop or control worrying
  3. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
  4. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
0 of 4 answered
About this scale

The PHQ-4 combines the PHQ-2 depression screen and the GAD-2 anxiety screen and takes under two minutes. If either subscale reaches 3, take the full Depression check or Anxiety check to see how strong the symptoms are. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.

SourceKroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2009). An ultra-brief screening scale for anxiety and depression: The PHQ-4. Psychosomatics, 50(6), 613–621. Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. Per the copyright holder's manual: “All of the measures included in Table 1 are in the public domain. No permission is required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute.”

Need someone to talk to?

If you are in distress or thinking about hurting yourself, contact one of the lines below now, or call emergency services. You don't have to carry this alone.

  • US: 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text, 24/7 988
  • UK & Ireland: Samaritans24/7, free 116 123
  • Other countriesFind a free, confidential helpline near you findahelpline.com
  • EmergencyIf someone's life is in danger 112 / 911