PHQ-2 Screening for Depression
Quick Screen
A quick way of screening patients for depression is to ask patients these two questions:
During the past month, have you often been bothered by:
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things?
Yes
No
2. Feeling down, depressed or hopeless?
Yes
No
If the patient's response to both questions is "no", the screen is negative.
If the patient responded "yes" to either question, consider asking more detailed questions or using PHQ-9 patient questionnaire,
Appendix A.
* PHQ-9 is described in more detail at the McArthur Institute on Depression & Primary Care website