Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a brief, well-validated and
reliable diagnostic tool for depression. Individuals are asked to rate 9
items pertaining to depression symptoms they’ve found bothersome over
the last two weeks from “0” (not at all) to “3” (nearly every day).
Depressive symptoms are then rated as minimal, mild, moderate,
moderately severe or severe. The PHQ-9 was administered at baseline,
and again upon discharge (Kroenke et al., 2001).