What is a common characteristic shared by both PHQ-9 and GAD-7?

• A. They are laboratory tests
• B. They are self-report scales used to screen for and monitor mood and anxiety disorders, respectively
• C. They require clinician scoring
• D. They are only used for research

Answer: (B)

Both are brief, patient-completed questionnaires used to quickly assess symptoms and guide care. They’re not lab tests, and they’re designed as self-report tools that help screen for depressive and anxiety symptoms and track how those symptoms change over time with treatment. The PHQ-9 covers nine depressive symptoms over the past two weeks, while the GAD-7 covers seven anxiety symptoms in the same time frame. Because they’re self-administered and scored (either by the patient or a clinician), they’re widely used in clinical practice to identify potential mood or anxiety disorders and to monitor response to therapy, rather than being exclusive to research.