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PHQ-9 · 0–4 · minimalPHQ-9 score 0–4: minimal depression — what it means
A PHQ-9 total of 0–4 falls in the minimal range. In plain terms: your answers don't point to depression right now. What you're carrying reads more like ordinary tiredness and the weight of a hard season — not a clinical low. This is a screen, not a diagnosis, but it's a reassuring result.
What this result means
The PHQ-9 asks how often, over the last two weeks, nine core symptoms of depression have bothered you — low mood, loss of interest, sleep and appetite changes, low energy, guilt, trouble concentrating, and slowed or restless movement. A total in the 0–4 band means those symptoms were largely absent or fleeting. On Regular's version of the check, this is The Steady One 🌿 — “It's been a heavy stretch, but the floor is still under me.”
New parenthood is exhausting on its own, and feeling flat or drained some days doesn't mean you're depressed. The signal here is that your tank still refills when you rest. That's genuinely good news — and worth protecting.
Where this score sits
The PHQ-9 runs from 0 to 27, split into five bands. A total of 10 or higher is the standard threshold where a professional assessment is worthwhile. Here's the full ladder, with your band marked:
- 0–4 — Minimal (you are here)
- 5–9 — Mild
- 10–14 — Moderate
- 15–19 — Moderately severe
- 20–27 — Severe
What to do next
What helps: keep doing the ordinary things that keep you level. Protect some real recovery — sleep where you can, even in shifts. Share the load out loud with your partner instead of silently absorbing it. And lower the bar from perfect to good-enough; the first year after a baby is not the season for heroics. If the flatness ever starts to stick — most of the day, nearly every day, for a couple of weeks — come back and retake the check.
When to get help
At this level there's nothing to escalate. Keep an eye on the trend, and if things change, a GP or therapist is always a reasonable call. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, don't wait — find mental-health support in your country, or call your local emergency services.
FAQ
Is a PHQ-9 score of 0–4 good?
Yes — 0–4 is the minimal range, the lowest band on the PHQ-9. It suggests depression symptoms are largely absent right now. It's a screen, not a diagnosis, but it's a reassuring result.
Do I need to see a doctor with a minimal score?
Not on the basis of this score alone. If you still feel that something is off, or if your mood dips later, checking in with a GP or therapist is always reasonable — and you can retake the check anytime.
What if I feel low but scored minimal?
The PHQ-9 looks at a two-week window. If your low feeling is newer, on-and-off, or tied to a specific stress, it may not show up yet. Trust your own read too: if it persists, talk to a professional.
Regular is built by a small team of parents who needed it themselves — a companion for the first year after a baby that helps new dads rebuild closeness with their partner through small, science-backed moments, not big talks.
Scored with the PHQ-9 (Spitzer, Kroenke & Williams; free to use). A screen, not a diagnosis. A total of 10+ is the standard threshold to seek a professional assessment. When you take the check, your answers stay on your device.