Understanding the PHQ-9 and GAD-7: The importance of Mental Health Screeners at Mala

Understanding the PHQ-9 and GAD-7: The importance of Mental Health Screeners at Mala

Here at Mala, you’ve probably completed a GAD-7 or PHQ-9 at some point or, maybe you've done them somewhere else, such as the doctor! But do you know why these assessments are so important and so widely used? These tools help us to understand your mental health by identifying symptoms of anxiety or depression. At Mala, we believe in using these tools to help you get the best, personalized, most effective support you need.

Mental health assessments are important for identifying and treating conditions like depression and anxiety, which are two of the most common mental health conditions in children, teens, and adults. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) are assessment tools you may see often used in the field of mental health! These assessments are an easy and effective tool for clinicians to use to help diagnose and monitor some of the most common mental health challenges...

Let’s look more into what these tools are and why we think they are so important!

The PHQ-9

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a tool mainly used to assess feelings of depression, diagnose depression, and can even help to track client progress over time. This is a valid assessment tool given that it is evidence based and has been studied in many different clinical settings, and consists of standardized scoring which ensures reliability. The PHQ-9 consists of 9 questions that ask about common symptoms associated with depression, and how the individual may have experienced those feelings over the last two weeks. Following the first 9 questions, the PHQ-9 assessment then asks a 10th question to gather information on how much these symptoms affect daily functioning. Every question consists of answers ranging from “not at all, several days, more than half the days, and nearly everyday”.

Depression can look different in adults vs children, which can make it harder to identify. While adults might show more “classic” symptoms such as sadness or fatigue, children might express their depressive feelings differently though being more irritable or acting out. What we think depression looks like may not always be how it manifests in different people! It's also important to consider other factors, such as screen time, different sleep schedules or sleep patterns, or lack of routine, which can show similar symptoms to depression without depression being the underlying cause for those feelings. It is important to evaluate all aspects of one's life and routine before jumping into a diagnosis of depression.

The GAD-7

The GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) is another self assessment tool, this Tool is specifically used when measuring generalized anxiety disorder. Just like the PHQ-9, the GAD-7 also provides a score that helps assess the severity of the feelings of anxiety. The GAD-7 is an extremely reliable tool, as this assessment also uses a consistent scoring system that is understood in many different settings. The GAD-7 has 7 questions, which ask individuals how often they’ve experienced symptoms of anxiety over the last two weeks. In a GAD-7 assessment, individuals are asked to rate their symptoms on a scale from "not at all" to "nearly every day". Just like depression, anxiety also shows up differently in individuals and signs and symptoms vary depending on every person and situation. For many people, they may have more physical symptoms when they're anxious such as racing heart and sweating, while others may have more mental symptoms like racing thoughts. Since anxiety can present itself in many ways, by tracking symptoms overtime, clinicians are able to assess which coping skills and what work is most effective with each individual.

Why are they important?

Both the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 have been shown to be reliable and effective questions to diagnose and monitor signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Both of these assessments are easy to follow, easy to complete, and are completed by yourself, which is a great way to allow you to reflect on how you have been feeling recently! Completing these assessments regularly, allows you to understand your emotions and allows your care provider to track progress overtime.

Both the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 can be administered multiple times over the process of receiving support, which tracks changes in scores, and can allow both the client and clinician to track what may be working very well, and what areas may continue to need work. Being able to track changes and progress within this assessment is great and can benefit treatment goals and plans. Although these tools alone are not responsible for diagnoses, they help clinicians understand the frequency and intensity of the feelings and allows clinicians to develop the most effective ways to meet clients' needs.

For both depression and anxiety, consistently measuring symptoms can allow for a more personalized approach to the work being done in therapy, to ensure every individual is getting the most effective support to meet their needs.

At Mala, we understand the importance of personalizing care to each of our clients and treating you as individuals! These assessment tools give clinicians insight into what areas our clients may be struggling with, which allow better outcomes and a more personalized approach to treatment to ensure we are providing the best possible support for our clients as they navigate the challenges they may be facing!

Here at Mala, we provide services that can support those struggling with anxiety or depression. Some of our services include:

• Individual Therapy

• Play Therapy

• Parent Training

• Family/Couples Therapy

• Medication Management

Practical Steps to Manage Anxiety and Depression

• Routine & Structure: Set small, manageable goals for yourself daily, even if they seem simple (e.g., getting out of bed, eating a meal, going for a walk).

• Physical Health: Regular exercise, even a short walk, can help improve mood. Focus on a balanced diet and adequate sleep.

• Social Support: Stay connected with friends or family, even if it’s just through text or a short call. Don’t isolate yourself.

With love and gratitude,

Rachel Kruman

Social Work Practicum Student