Patient Health Questionnaire-9 — Fact Checks

HEALTH Aug 3, 2026

Common medical conditions and medication burden can elevate PHQ-9 scores to 10+.

Claim: Numerous medical conditions and polypharmacy (use of multiple medications) combinations, many of which are common, can contribute to Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores of 10 or higher. NOT BS

HEALTH Aug 3, 2026

Several PHQ-9 symptoms, like fatigue and sleep changes, can stem from medical conditions.

Claim: Symptoms assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) can overlap with symptoms caused by other health conditions. NOT BS

HEALTH Aug 3, 2026

A PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher indicates a positive depression screen.

Claim: A Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score of 10 or higher indicates that clinical depression is present. MOSTLY BS