Introduction
The Zung depression questionnaire combines emotional, physical and everyday-functioning experiences in 20 statements. Some describe difficulties and others describe positive experiences, so the wording changes direction across the form.
Sleep, appetite and energy also vary with physical health and daily circumstances. Examples of what changed from your usual routine can help explain an answer. A total brings responses together, while the individual topics show which experiences contributed to it.
PHQ-9 uses a shorter set of recent symptom questions; GDS focuses on older adults. The choice is about the experiences and population covered, not which questionnaire produces the larger number.
Instructions
For each item below, please check the column which best describes how often you felt or behaved this way during the past several days.
Scoring and result metrics
The result page reports a local screening score for this questionnaire. Use the score range, any subscale scores, and the interpretation band together rather than treating one number as a diagnosis.
- Score range
- 0-80
- Items scored
- 20
- Result indicators
- Total score / Interpretation band when available
Score interpretation bands
- 20-44Little to no depression
Scores in the 20-44 range are indicative of little to no Depression levels.
- 45-59Mild depression
Scores in the 45-59 range are indicative of mild Depression levels.
- 60-69Moderate depression
Scores in the 60-69 range are indicative of moderate Depression levels.
- 70-80Severe depression
Scores in the 70-80 range are indicative of severe Depression levels.
Interpretation bands summarize screening thresholds from the questionnaire source material. Higher scores usually indicate more of the measured concern unless the tool notes a different scoring rule.
Tool information
- Version
- 20 questions
- Administration
- Self-report
- Intended audience
- Adults reviewing emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms associated with depression
Sources
Related tests
Explore related screening tools in the same topic area.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
The Edinburgh scale asks about emotional experiences around the postnatal period, including enjoyment, self-blame, worry, sadness and feeling overwhelmed.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Item Scale (GAD-7)
GAD-7 brings together seven experiences related to anxiety, including persistent worry, difficulty relaxing, restlessness and irritability.
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
The Geriatric Depression Scale explores mood and engagement with life in older adults.