Moderate Depression Severity — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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EasyMood DisordersModerate Depression SeverityMRCPsych Paper B

A 22-year-old man reports depressive symptoms for 3 weeks. His PHQ-9 score is 12. Using the standard PHQ-9 severity bands, which category does this score represent?

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Correct answer: C — Moderate depression

The correct answer is C. A PHQ-9 score of 12 lies within the standard 10–14 band, indicating moderate depressive symptom severity. Scores of 0–4 indicate no or minimal depression, 5–9 mild depression, 15–19 moderately severe depression and 20–27 severe depression. The PHQ-9 measures symptom severity and does not by itself establish a depressive diagnosis or determine whether psychotic symptoms are present. NICE recommends integrating rating-scale results with the duration, course and intensity of symptoms, functional impairment, previous history and risk assessment. NICE NG222 also uses the broader terms less severe and more severe depression when organising treatment recommendations.

Reference: NHS Digital. Supporting Information: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), score ranges. Page last published 27 December 2019. https://archive.datadictionary.nhs.uk/DD%20Release%20December%202019/data_dictionary/nhs_business_definitions/p/patient_health_questionnaire-9_de.asp%40shownav%3D1.html