BrainLab Psychology Group

Screening tools · Adolescent depression

PHQ-9 Modified for Teens.

A depression questionnaire for young people ages 11–17. It asks about the past two weeks, includes four additional context and safety questions, and cannot diagnose depression or classify suicide risk.

Safety responses are not monitored

Any response above “Not at all” to Item 9, a “Yes” response to serious thoughts about ending your life in the past month, or a “Yes” response to a lifetime suicide attempt immediately displays crisis and youth-support information. The page does not classify suicide risk or notify BrainLab. A negative response does not establish that someone is safe.

Questionnaire

PHQ-9: Modified for Teens

Intended for: Young people ages 11–17

Timeframe: During the past two weeks.

How often have you been bothered by each of the following symptoms during the past two weeks? For each symptom put an “X” in the box beneath the answer that best describes how you have been feeling. Then answer the four additional questions; only Items 1–9 are included in the 0–27 symptom score.

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things?
2. Feeling down, depressed, irritable, or hopeless?
3. Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much?
4. Feeling tired, or having little energy?
5. Poor appetite, weight loss, or overeating?
6. Feeling bad about yourself—or feeling that you are a failure, or that you have let yourself or your family down?
7. Trouble concentrating on things like school work, reading, or watching TV?
8. Moving 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 usual?
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way?

Additional questions

These four questions provide context and are not included in the 0–27 symptom score. A healthcare professional should review any safety-related response.

Additional 1. If you are experiencing any of the problems on this form, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home or get along with other people?
Additional 2. In the past year have you felt depressed or sad most days, even if you felt okay sometimes?
Additional 3. Has there been a time in the past month when you have had serious thoughts about ending your life?
Additional 4. Have you EVER, in your WHOLE LIFE, tried to kill yourself or made a suicide attempt?

0 of 13 answered

Score guide

Understanding this score

Use the score as one piece of information. A screening questionnaire cannot establish a diagnosis or rule out a condition.

Score guide for PHQ-9: Modified for Teens

How scoring works

Only the nine core symptom items are added for a total from 0 to 27. Four additional questions provide context and safety information but do not change the total.

Published ranges or thresholds

Published bands are minimal (0–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14), moderately severe (15–19) and severe (20–27).

PHQ-9: Modified for Teens score bands
ScorePublished description
0–4Minimal
5–9Mild
10–14Moderate
15–19Moderately severe
20–27Severe

These ranges describe symptoms reported on the questionnaire. They do not establish a diagnosis.

What a higher score may indicate

Higher bands indicate more recent depressive symptoms, not a diagnosis or suicide-risk classification.

What a lower score may indicate

A lower total does not rule out depression, distress or the need for youth-appropriate support.

Evidence and limitations

BrainLab uses PHQ-9: Modified for Teens version 3 for young people ages 11–17. The additional questions must be considered separately from the total. Any safety-related response deserves human follow-up.

Screening vs assessment

A questionnaire is not a psychological assessment.

A questionnaire can help you notice patterns, but it does not diagnose, produce a psychological assessment report or replace professional evaluation. You do not need to complete one before requesting an assessment.

Compare screening and assessmentUse the Assessment Planner

When support may be useful

A healthcare professional can consider the score, individual responses, additional questions, history and current circumstances together. Young people may also consider telling a trusted adult or healthcare professional where it is safe to do so.

TherapyPsychodiagnostic assessment

Frequently asked questions

Who is this version for?

BrainLab uses PHQ-9: Modified for Teens, version 3, for young people ages 11–17.

Do the additional questions change the score?

No. Only Items 1–9 are included in the 0–27 symptom score.

Where can a young person get support now?

Call or text 9-8-8, or contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868. Use 9-1-1 or the nearest emergency department for immediate danger.

Source

PHQ-9: Modified for Teens (version 3) (opens in a new tab)

Attribution

Modified with permission by the GLAD-PC team.

Copyright

© 2018 The REACH Institute.

Reference

Next step

Explore an appropriate next step.

Therapy and psychodiagnostic assessment are available as separate professional services.

View TherapyLearn About Psychodiagnostic Assessment