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Term Description

The Patient Health Questionnaire is a self-administered version of the PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day).
For initial diagnosis:
1. Patient completes PHQ-9 Quick Depression Assessment on accompanying tear-off pad.
2. If there are at least 4 checks in the blue highlighted section (including Questions #1 and #2), consider a depressive disorder. Add score to determine severity.
3a. Consider Major Depressive Disorder: if there are at least 5 checks in the blue highlighted section (one of which corresponds to Question #1 or #2).
3b. Consider Other Depressive Disorder: if there are 2 to 4 checks in the blue highlighted section (one of which corresponds to Question #1 or #2)

Note: Since the questionnaire relies on patient self-report, all responses should be verified by the clinician and a definitive diagnosis made on clinical grounds, taking into account how well the patient understood the questionnaire, as well as other relevant information from the patient. Diagnoses of Major Depressive Disorder or Other Depressive Disorder also require impairment of social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (Question #10) and ruling out normal bereavement, a history of a Manic Episode (Bipolar Disorder), and a physical disorder, medication, or other drug as the biological cause of the depressive symptoms.

To monitor severity over time for newly diagnosed patients or patients in current treatment for depression:

1. Patients may complete questionnaires at baseline and at regular intervals (eg, every 2 weeks) at home and bring them in at their next appointment for scoring or they may complete the questionnaire during each scheduled appointment.
2. Add up the checks by column. For every check: Several days = 1 More than half the days = 2 Nearly every day = 3
3. Add together column scores to get a TOTAL score.
4. Refer to the accompanying PHQ-9 Scoring Card to interpret the TOTAL score.
5. Results may be included in patients' files to assist you in setting up a treatment goal, determining degree of response, as well as guiding treatment intervention.

PHQ-9 is adapted from PRIME MD TODAY, developed by Drs Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke, and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. For research information, contact Dr Spitzer at [email protected].

Reference Information

TypeSourceReference
ArticleNCBI PubMedKroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. Link to PubMed
Original FormPfizer, IncCopyright Copyright © Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved.Original form upon which the LOINC panel is based. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
CitationRegenstrief HelpKroenke K. Spitzer RL. Williams JB. Lowe B., The Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptom Scales: a systematic review. [Review], General Hospital Psychiatry. 32(4):345-59, 2010 Jul-Aug.

Panel Hierarchy

Details for each LOINC in Panel LHC-Forms

LOINCNameR/O/CCardinalityExample UCUM Units
44249-1PHQ-9 quick depression assessment panel [Reported.PHQ]
Indent44250-9Little interest or pleasure in doing things1..1
Indent44255-8Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless1..1
Indent44259-0Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much1..1
Indent44254-1Feeling tired or having little energy1..1
Indent44251-7Poor appetite or overeating1..1
Indent44258-2Feeling bad about yourself-or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down1..1
Indent44252-5Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television1..1
Indent44253-3Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed. Or the opposite – being so fidgety or restless that you were moving around a lot more than usual1..1
Indent44260-8Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way
Indent69722-7How difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?
Indent44261-6Patient Health Questionnaire 9 item (PHQ-9) total score [Reported]{score}

LOINC Names Get Info

Fully-Specified Name
PHQ-9 quick depression assessment panel:-:Pt:^Patient:-:Reported.PHQ
Long Common Name
PHQ-9 quick depression assessment panel [Reported.PHQ]

Part Model Get Info

  • Component
    PHQ-9 quick depression assessment panel
    LP75380-3
    • Analyte
      PHQ-9 quick depression assessment panel
      LP75380-3
      • Component Numerator
        PHQ-9 quick depression assessment panel
        LP75380-3
        • Component Numerator Core
          PHQ-9 quick depression assessment panel
          LP75380-3
        • Component Numerator Core Suffix
          NULL
           
      • Component Denominator
        NULL
         
        • Component Denominator Core
          NULL
           
        • Component Denominator Core Suffix
          NULL
           
    • Challenge
      NULL
       
    • Adjustment
      NULL
       
    • Count
      NULL
       
  • Property
    -
    LP6769-6
  • Time
    Pt
    LP6960-1
  • System
    ^Patient
    LP310005-6
    • System Core
      NULL
       
    • Super System
      Patient
      LP6985-8
  • Scale
    -
    LP7747-1
  • Method
    Reported.PHQ
    LP146029-6

Basic Attributes

Class
PANEL.SURVEY.PHQ
Type
Surveys
First Released
Version 2.17
Last Updated
Version 2.44 (MIN)
Order vs. Observation
Order
Panel Type
Panel

LOINC Terminology Service (API) using HL7® FHIR® Get Info

CodeSystem lookup
https://fhir.loinc.org/CodeSystem/$lookup?system=http://loinc.org&code=44249-1
Questionnaire definition
https://fhir.loinc.org/Questionnaire/?url=http://loinc.org/q/44249-1