Anxiety & depression test (PHQ-4 scale)

PHQ-4 is a short, validated questionnaire that assesses both anxiety and low mood in just 4 questions. Your email breakdown shows overall psychological distress plus each subscale separately.

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

0 of 4

  1. 1. Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge
  2. 2. Not being able to stop or control worrying
  3. 3. Little interest or pleasure in doing things
  4. 4. Feeling down, depressed or hopeless

Answer every question to get your result.

By submitting, I agree to data processing under the privacy policy.

Answers are processed only to calculate your result and are not stored anywhere.

How the score works

The first two questions are about anxiety, the next two about mood. The total score (0–12) shows the level of psychological distress; in the email you also see anxiety and depression separately (each 0–6, with 3 as the attention threshold).

  • 0–2Normal — no significant distress
  • 3–5Mild psychological distress
  • 6–8Moderate distress
  • 9–12Severe distress

0–12

What the PHQ-4 measures

PHQ-4 combines two short, proven tests: GAD-2 (anxiety) and PHQ-2 (mood). It is a fast way to see overall distress and which is stronger — anxiety or low mood. The full scales (GAD-7 and PHQ-9) give a more detailed picture.

Why assess anxiety and depression together

Anxiety and depression very often go hand in hand and feed each other. Assessing them together is useful: sometimes low mood hides behind “anxiety”, and sometimes the reverse. The total score and two subscales help show where to look next.

When to see a professional

The questionnaire does not diagnose. See a doctor or therapist if:

  • the total score is moderate or high and lasts more than two weeks;
  • anxiety or low mood gets in the way of sleep, work or relationships;
  • you have thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of harming yourself — seek help immediately.

Anxiety, mood and the body

Both anxiety and low mood can have a physical basis: the thyroid, iron, vitamin D and B12 deficiency, chronic stress with high cortisol. If you have lab results, it is worth decoding them — sometimes the cause is fixable.

Frequently asked questions

  • Close in purpose — HADS also assesses anxiety and depression together, but it is copyrighted. We use the free PHQ-4 scale; the result is comparable in meaning.

  • PHQ-4 is an ultra-brief entry screen. If it shows a raised level, it makes sense to take the full tests — depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7).

  • No. Answers are processed only to calculate the result and are not stored anywhere. You receive a breakdown by email — that is all.

Check for a physical cause

The thyroid, low iron, B12 and vitamin D, and high cortisol cause both anxiety and low mood. Upload your labs — AI explains every value and tells you what to check.

Decode my labs

The PHQ-4 questionnaire is informational and a screening tool, not a diagnosis. The final assessment is up to a doctor. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help immediately: in the US call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7), or your local emergency number.