PHQ Scale Alternative Names
The PHQ scale is formally known as the Patient Health Questionnaire. 1
Official Nomenclature
The PHQ exists in multiple validated versions, each with its own designation:
- PHQ-9: The full 9-item depression module that scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder 2, 3
- PHQ-8: An 8-item abbreviated version of the PHQ-9 3, 4
- PHQ-2: An ultra-brief 2-item screener that assesses only depressed mood and anhedonia 3, 5
Common Usage in Clinical Settings
The Patient Health Questionnaire is widely referred to simply as "the PHQ" in clinical practice, with the numeric suffix indicating the number of items included 1. The PHQ-9 has become the most frequently utilized depression screening instrument globally, having been translated into more than 70 languages and dialects 6.
Important Distinction
The PHQ should not be confused with other screening tools used in similar contexts, such as the NCCN Distress Thermometer, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-2 or GAD-7), or the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which are separate instruments used for different screening purposes 1.
The term "Patient Health Questionnaire" is the only formal alternative name for the PHQ scale—it is not known by any other clinical designation 2, 7.