Wellbeing2026-02-10 · 6 min
Online depression tests — are they worth taking? PHQ-9, GAD-7 and other tools
Are online depression tests reliable? Overview of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screening tools — what they are, how they work, and when to seek help.
Do online depression tests make sense?
Screening tools like PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are short questionnaires that assess symptom severity. They are NOT diagnoses — only a specialist can diagnose. They serve as filters: if your score exceeds the threshold, it's worth scheduling an appointment.
These tools have limitations: they don't replace diagnosis, context matters, and self-assessment has inherent biases. But they can shorten the path from noticing symptoms to seeking help.
The free GAD-7 test is available at PsychoProfil.pl in Polish. Remember: the result is a starting point for conversation, not a verdict.