PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15)
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The PHQ-15 is a 15-item self-report tool used to measure the severity of somatic symptoms. It is commonly used in primary care and behavioral health settings to assess physical symptom burden, particularly when symptoms lack a clear medical explanation.
Recommended Frequency: Every 4–6 weeks during active symptom management or as clinically indicated during intake or review of systems.
About the PHQ-15
The PHQ-15 was developed as part of the larger Patient Health Questionnaire suite to assess common somatic symptoms across multiple bodily systems. It is useful for identifying individuals who may experience medically unexplained symptoms and for tracking symptom severity over time, particularly in relation to anxiety or mood disorders.
Psychometric Properties
The PHQ-15 has demonstrated solid internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.80–0.88) and construct validity across both clinical and community samples. Higher scores are associated with increased functional impairment and health care utilization. It is commonly used in both psychiatric and primary care research on somatization.
Source: Kroenke et al., 2002
The Scale
Respondents rate how much they have been bothered by each of 15 physical symptoms over the past four weeks using a 3-point scale:
- “Not bothered at all” (0)
- “Bothered a little” (1)
- “Bothered a lot” (2)
Symptoms include pain (e.g., back pain, headaches), fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and dizziness. One item is gender-specific (menstrual problems).
Score Range
Total scores range from 0 to 30. Severity thresholds are:
- 0–4: Minimal
- 5–9: Low
- 10–14: Medium
- 15–30: High
Higher scores may indicate clinically significant somatic symptom burden and should prompt further evaluation if not already explained by medical conditions.
Copyright
© Pfizer Inc. Developed by Drs. Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams as part of the PHQ suite.
References
- Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2002). The PHQ-15: Validity of a new measure for evaluating the severity of somatic symptoms. Psychosomatic Medicine, 64(2), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-200203000-00008
Disclaimer
This summary is intended for informational use only. HiBoop does not interpret individual scores or provide clinical recommendations. Clinical interpretation should be performed by qualified healthcare professionals.
Permissions
The PHQ-15 is in the public domain and may be freely used, reproduced, and distributed for non-commercial clinical and research purposes without modification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the PHQ-15 be used for treatment monitoring?
Yes. Repeating the PHQ-15 every few weeks can help track how symptom severity changes with stress, treatment, or life events.
Can I use the PHQ-15 for teens?
It is validated for adults, though use in adolescents may be considered with clinical judgment.
How is it different from the PHQ-9?
PHQ-9 screens for depressive symptoms; PHQ-15 focuses on physical symptoms regardless of mood. They complement each other.
What does a high score mean if the client has a known medical condition?
Even medically explained symptoms can cause distress. The PHQ-15 can still useful to track impact and severity, especially in integrated care.
Does the PHQ-15 diagnose somatic symptom disorder?
No. It screens for symptom burden, not diagnosis. Clinical assessment is needed to determine whether symptoms are disproportionate or medically unexplained.