Check-ins are structured self-report questionnaires used in research and clinical practice. InnerPulse ships seven of them. They are not diagnostic, but they give you comparable numbers – over time and against what your therapist or doctor would see.
The seven instruments
- PHQ-9 – depression symptoms over the last two weeks.
- GAD-7 – anxiety over the last two weeks.
- WHO-5 – positive well-being, not illness.
- DASS-21 – three subscales for depression, anxiety and stress.
- PSS-10 – perceived stress over the last month.
- K10 – general psychological distress.
- PHQ-4 – a four-question screener for a weekly quick check.
Running a questionnaire
Open the Check-In tab and tap a test. Each question appears on its own page. A progress bar runs along the top. Pick the answer that fits you best. The score is calculated live.
At the end you'll see:
- the total score,
- a severity label (e.g. "minimal", "mild", "moderate"),
- a comparison with your previous run of the same test,
- a coloured alert banner, if relevant.
Understanding score and severity
Each test has its own bands. Example PHQ-9: 0–4 minimal, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe. The app labels it for you. Remember: a single value tells you little – the trend is what matters.
Manual entry
Have a score from your doctor or a past test? Tap the plus icon in the check-in and enter the score manually. The colour slider shows the severity straight away. Manual entries count in the trend just like completed questionnaires.
Alert banners
InnerPulse shows coloured banners when a score stands out:
- Blue (notice) – moderately elevated, watch the trend.
- Orange (urgent) – repeatedly high scores, a conversation with a professional is sensible.
- Red (acute) – you indicated suicidal thoughts. The app opens a modal with hotline numbers.
More in the chapter Help in crises.
Worth knowing
- The questionnaires are not diagnostic. They screen, they don't diagnose.
- You can repeat every test as often as you like. The history is stored.
- Abandoned runs are not saved – only completed ones land in the archive.