Back
Depression · Measurement

PHQ-9 Weekly Tracker

8 weeks of PHQ-9 totals — the trend individual sessions can't show

TherapistAssist logo

The PHQ-9 was designed to be tracked, not scored once. Weekly totals reveal trend — the thing individual sessions can't show. Enter each week's score; watch the line.

Week
Date
PHQ-9 total (0–27)
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
0–4
none
5–9
mild
10–14
moderate
15–19
mod-severe
20–27
severe
What changed the weeks it went down?
What was happening the weeks it went up?

Item 9 (self-harm/suicide) is a safety trigger, not a trend point — a non-zero response always gets a same-session conversation, regardless of the total.

© 2026 TherapistAssist ·
Option One

Get the PHQ-9 Weekly Tracker

Print-ready PDF. Instant download — no account needed. We email you a copy too.

This sheet only. Unsubscribe anytime.

Option Two

Or send it to your client

Every worksheet, plus 80 interactive tools your client opens on their phone. No app. No login.

  • Their response lands in your dashboard
  • Unlimited worksheet downloads
Start 7-day trial

$20/mo after · cancel in one click

About this worksheet

The PHQ-9 was designed for repeated administration, not a single score. A one-shot PHQ-9 says where the client is today; a weekly tracker says where they're going, and that's the number that matters. This sheet is a simple 8-row log — week, date, total (0–27) — with the standard severity bands (0–4 none, 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe) shown at a glance. Two reflection prompts follow: what changed the weeks it went down, what was happening the weeks it went up. A footer reminds clinicians that item 9 (self-harm / suicide) is a safety trigger rather than a trend point — a non-zero response always gets a same-session conversation, regardless of the total. Fits measurement-based care requirements for most insurers and outcome-tracking practices.

When to use it

  • Measurement-based care in depression treatment.
  • Response monitoring during antidepressant trials and titrations.
  • Insurance documentation and outcome tracking.
  • IAPT-style stepped-care review points.
  • Discharge planning — trend over the last 4 weeks matters more than the last score.

How to use it

  1. 1
    Same day, same context each week

    Ratings drift with time-of-day and recent events. Consistent context makes the trend cleaner.

  2. 2
    Track the trend, not the score

    Movement of 5+ points is clinically meaningful. Individual scores are noisy.

  3. 3
    Ask both reflection questions

    'What changed when it dropped' surfaces working ingredients. 'What was happening when it rose' surfaces triggers.

  4. 4
    Item 9 gets separate attention

    Any non-zero response to item 9 warrants direct conversation regardless of the total. Do not let a low total obscure a non-zero item 9.

Frequently asked questions

Is the PHQ-9 free to use clinically?+

Yes — the PHQ-9 is in the public domain (developed by Pfizer, released free for clinical and research use). No license fee.

How often should the PHQ-9 be readministered?+

Weekly during active treatment is common; every 2–4 weeks in maintenance is typical. More often than weekly usually doesn't add signal above noise.

Is this worksheet free?+

Yes. Free printable PDF. Sign in to send as a secure client link.

Worksheet — PHQ-9 Weekly Tracker — provided by TherapistAssist for clinical use. Not a substitute for assessment or treatment.