The PHQ-4 (Patient Health Questionnaire-4) is the Swiss army knife of screenings: two questions from the PHQ depression scale and two from the GAD anxiety scale, together an ultra-short check for the two most common concerns. Four questions, about the past two weeks.
It is deliberately coarse. The PHQ-4 does not tell you what is going on, only whether a closer look is worthwhile. That is exactly what makes it the ideal entry point – and the perfect companion for short, regular check-ins.
What this test measures: Brief screening for depression and anxiety over the past two weeks
Source: Kroenke, Spitzer, Williams & Löwe (2009), Psychosomatics. Kurz-Screening aus PHQ-2 und GAD-2.
How to read your result
The PHQ-4 produces a score between 0 and 12. The ranges are: 0–2 normal, 3–5 mild, 6–8 moderate, 9–12 strongly elevated. It can also be split: the first two questions form a depression sub-score, the last two an anxiety sub-score. So you get a rough sense of which direction the strain is coming from.
Because it is so short, the PHQ-4 is not a fine measuring instrument. An elevated score is an invitation to look closer with the full PHQ-9 or GAD-7 – no more and no less.
The ideal test to repeat
Precisely because the PHQ-4 takes 30 seconds, it is excellent for what actually matters: checking in regularly. A single score is a snapshot. But answer four questions every few days and you see a line – and lines tell stories that single points keep quiet.
That is why the PHQ-4 is built into InnerPulse. You answer it in seconds, the app records the trend and places it next to your influence factors. A quick check turns into a real early-warning system for your mental health.
With data, not just a gut feeling
Most people only notice late that things slowly got worse over weeks. A short, repeated check makes such trajectories visible before they grow large. That is the idea behind InnerPulse: stop wondering whether it is "just a phase" and read it off your own data.
Completely anonymous
The test runs entirely in your browser. No storage, no transfer, no account, no tracking. Close the page and everything is gone. In InnerPulse, your data also stays entirely on your device.
FAQ
What is the difference between PHQ-4 and PHQ-9?
The PHQ-4 is an ultra-short four-question screen that roughly covers depression and anxiety at once. The PHQ-9 looks exclusively and more closely at depression with nine questions. The PHQ-4 is the entry point, the PHQ-9 the more precise second step.
Can the PHQ-4 tell anxiety and depression apart?
Roughly, yes: the first two questions form a depression sub-score, the last two an anxiety sub-score. For a more precise read, use the PHQ-9 or GAD-7 afterwards.
Are my answers stored?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser, with no account, tracking, or server transfer. Close the page and your answers are gone.
How often should I take the PHQ-4?
As often as you like – it is designed for exactly that. Many people answer it every few days. The value of a short check lies in repetition, and that is precisely what InnerPulse does.
With data, not just a gut feeling
Want to track your questionnaires over time and compare results? Then download InnerPulse. Everything stays private, no data leaves your device, and you discover what lifts your mood or drags it down.
Get InnerPulse · $4.99 one-time