PHQ-A
Pronunciation: P-H-Q-A
Also written as: PHQ-A — Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents
Modified version of the Patient Health Questionnaire designed specifically for adolescent depression screening.
Full Definition
The Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) is a validated screening tool adapted from the adult PHQ-9 to assess depressive symptoms in teenagers aged 13-17 years. The instrument uses modified language and examples relevant to adolescent experiences while maintaining the same nine-item structure based on DSM criteria for major depression. The PHQ-A includes additional prompts about school functioning and peer relationships. Scores of 11 or higher suggest moderate to severe depression requiring clinical attention. The tool is widely used in primary care, school-based health centers, and specialty adolescent medicine practices.
Usage
Usage note: Specify 'PHQ-A' rather than 'PHQ' when referring to the adolescent version to avoid confusion with adult tools.
In Context
- "The patient's PHQ-A score of 14 indicated moderate depression requiring further evaluation and intervention." — Clinical assessment note
- "Implementation of routine PHQ-A screening improved depression detection rates in the adolescent clinic." — Quality improvement report