Definition
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a validated nine-question instrument used to screen for depression and measure its severity, with each item scored 0 to 3 for a total of 0 to 27.
Each question asks how often, over the past two weeks, the patient has been bothered by a specific symptom. Total scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 are the conventional cut points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression. The ninth item asks about thoughts of self-harm, and a positive answer calls for clinical follow-up regardless of the total score.
Because it is short, structured, and scored mechanically, the PHQ-9 is well suited to phone administration, but only if it is delivered word for word and scored consistently. Any automated version has to read the items exactly, record answers faithfully, and route concerning results, especially item 9, to a clinician immediately rather than interpreting them.
How Consig handles it
Consig administers surveys like the PHQ-9 by phone, with handoff to staff based on the score. Structured screening runs as a deterministic, scripted flow, and clinical judgment stays with clinicians.