Which score is used to help determine major depressive disorder?

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The PHQ-9 Score is a widely used tool for screening and assessing the severity of major depressive disorder. This score is designed specifically to evaluate the presence and severity of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. The PHQ-9 consists of nine questions that correspond to the criteria for major depressive disorder as outlined in the DSM-5, making it a direct measure of depressive symptomatology.

Clinicians use the PHQ-9 not only for diagnosis but also to monitor treatment response over time, allowing for a structured approach to managing major depression. The scoring ranges from 0 to 27, where higher scores indicate greater severity of depression.

While other tools mentioned may assess different aspects related to mental health—such as the Hamilton Rating Scale, which focuses on the severity of depressive symptoms but is more clinician-administered, or the GAD-7 Score, which screens for generalized anxiety disorder—the PHQ-9 remains the most relevant and specific tool for diagnosing and measuring the severity of major depressive disorder. The Beck Anxiety Inventory is not directly related to depression assessment, further cementing the PHQ-9 as the most appropriate choice for this question.

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