Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam 2025 – Complete Practice Resource

A PHQ-9 score of 20-27 indicates severe depression and is reflective of significant depressive symptoms that can severely impair daily functioning. The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) uses a scoring system that categorizes depression severity based on the number and intensity of depressive symptoms experienced over the previous two weeks.

In this scoring range, individuals demonstrate a high level of distress and functional impairment, which can manifest as severe emotional, physical, or social difficulties. This scoring indicates that the individual may have trouble carrying out everyday activities, may experience significant challenges in their personal and professional lives, and often requires more intensive therapeutic interventions or a higher level of care, such as medication management and psychotherapy.

In contrast, lower scores on the PHQ-9 correspond to milder levels of depression, where symptoms may be manageable and not as debilitating.