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PHQ-9 & GAD-7 Screening Guide
· 4 min read
PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are the most widely used behavioral health screeners for depression and anxiety. Used correctly, they support diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcomes measurement. Here is when and how to use them in your practice.
PHQ-9 for Depression
Administer the PHQ-9 at intake and at regular intervals during treatment — typically every session or every few sessions depending on acuity. Scores of 5–9 suggest mild depression, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, and 20+ severe. Track score changes over time to demonstrate treatment response for clinical and payer purposes.
GAD-7 for Anxiety
The GAD-7 measures generalized anxiety severity on a similar scale. Scores of 5–9 indicate mild anxiety, 10–14 moderate, and 15+ severe. Many practices administer both screeners together since depression and anxiety commonly co-occur.
Free Tools & EHR Integration
Try our free screeners — no signup required: PHQ-9 Depression Screener and GAD-7 Anxiety Screener. When you are ready to embed screening in your clinical workflow, PaperlessEHR stores results directly in the client chart with automated scoring and outcome trending.