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Mood & Depression · 3 min · 15 questions

PHQ-15: Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (Somatic Symptoms)

Fifteen questions about physical symptoms over the past four weeks. About 3 minutes.

Medical disclaimer: this is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a condition. Your answers are processed in your browser and are never sent or stored.

PHQ-15: 0 of 15 answeredScore: 0 / 30 · Minimal

During the last 4 weeks, how much have you been bothered by any of the following problems?

  1. 1.Stomach pain
  2. 2.Back pain
  3. 3.Pain in your arms, legs, or joints (knees, hips, etc.)
  4. 4.Menstrual cramps or other problems with your periods (women only)
  5. 5.Headaches
  6. 6.Chest pain
  7. 7.Dizziness
  8. 8.Fainting spells
  9. 9.Feeling your heart pound or race
  10. 10.Shortness of breath
  11. 11.Pain or problems during sexual intercourse
  12. 12.Constipation, loose bowels, or diarrhea
  13. 13.Nausea, gas, or indigestion
  14. 14.Feeling tired or having low energy
  15. 15.Trouble sleeping

PHQ-15 result

Answer all 15 questions for a complete result. Current partial score shown.

0
out of 30
Minimal
Range 0–4

Your responses suggest minimal somatic symptom severity.

Recommended next steps

  • No action typically indicated.

Answer the remaining questions to enable the report:

  • PHQ-15:

Screening result only, not a diagnosis. Share it with a doctor or therapist.

PHQ-15 scoring guide

ScoreInterpretationSuggested action
0–4MinimalNo action typically indicated.
5–9LowMention persistent physical symptoms at your next healthcare visit.
10–14MediumDiscuss these symptoms with a doctor to look for treatable causes.
15–30HighArrange a medical evaluation; high symptom burden benefits from coordinated care.

Clinical background

What it measures

The PHQ-15 measures the severity of somatic (physical) symptoms over the past four weeks. Unexplained physical symptoms frequently accompany depression and anxiety and predict functional impairment.

How it is scored

Fifteen items scored 0–2 give a total of 0–30, with bands of 0–4 minimal, 5–9 low, 10–14 medium and 15–30 high somatic symptom severity (Kroenke et al., 2002).

Reference: Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-15: validity of a new measure for evaluating the severity of somatic symptoms. Psychosom Med. 2002;64(2):258–266. Public domain.