Depression Screening by PHQ-2 Calculator

The PHQ-2 assessment evaluates two foundational criteria for depressive disorders: depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in activities). Each of the two questions is scored on a scale from 0 ('Not at all') to 3 ('Nearly every day'). The combined total score (phq) ranges from 0 to 6. Mathematically, the initial score is calculated as phq = mood + anhedonia. Based on this cumulative score, the tool maps your results to specific diagnostic thresholds and positive predictive values (PPV) for major or any depressive disorders using validated clinical conversion tables.

Imagine an individual taking the PHQ-2 screening who reports experiencing a depressed mood several days a week, giving a 'mood' input value of 2. Furthermore, they report experiencing a complete loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all daily activities over the same timeframe, yielding an 'anhedonia' input value of 3. Adding these values together yields a total PHQ-2 score of 5 (phq = 2 + 3). Because a score of 3 or higher is typically considered a positive screen, a score of 5 triggers further clinical evaluation for major depression and other mood disorders, mapping to specific higher predictive value indices (majorscore and anyPPV).

Remember that the PHQ-2 is a screening instrument, not a formal medical diagnosis. A positive result simply indicates that further comprehensive evaluation by a licensed mental health professional is warranted. Always answer honestly based on your genuine experiences over the last 14 days for the most accurate and actionable assessment.