Patient Health Questionnaire-9

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The Patient Health Questionnaire-9. A validated 9-item self-report tool used to screen for and measure the severity of depression. Each item asks how often the person has experienced a particular symptom over the past two weeks, scored 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), giving a total score of 0–27. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression respectively. The PHQ-9 is widely used in GP and outpatient settings and is often used alongside the GAD-7 for anxiety. It may be used in post-arrest and cardiac rehabilitation follow-up to monitor mood and determine whether onward referral is needed.

Glossary: Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]
A 7-item questionnaire measuring anxiety severity over the past two weeks, scored 0–21. Scores of 5, 10, and 15 represent mild, moderate, and severe anxiety. Often used with the PHQ-9. Anxiety is common and under-recognised after cardiac arrest and ICD implantation.
Supporting Co-Survivors in Clinical Practice
Co-survivors — the partners, family members, and bystanders affected by cardiac arrest — are frequently invisible to clinical services. This page sets out why their needs matter, what the evidence says, and how professionals can identify and support them.

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