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Free Somatic Symptoms Test (PHQ-15)

Measure your somatic symptom severity with the PHQ-15. Free, anonymous, instant results.

The PHQ-15 — developed by Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams (2002), used widely in NHS primary care

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Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)

The PHQ-15 (Kroenke et al. 2002) is a 15-item self-report measure of somatic symptom severity. It captures the most common physical symptoms — pain, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, GI symptoms, sleep difficulties — that often coexist with stress, anxiety and depression. Scores from 0-30 fall into four bands: minimal, mild, moderate, severe — with ≥10 generally indicating clinically significant distress.

  • 15 clinically validated items across multiple symptom dimensions
  • Takes about 5 minutes to complete
  • 100% free and anonymous — no email or account required
  • Instant results with NHS-aligned guidance
  • Used widely in NHS primary care and global research
  • Somatic symptoms are common and treatable — usually with a combined medical + psychological approach
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.

About the online PHQ-15

The PHQ-15 is part of the Patient Health Questionnaire family (which also includes the PHQ-9 for depression and GAD-7 for anxiety). It was developed by the same team and uses the same response format. NHS GPs and psychologists use it routinely to gauge somatic symptom severity.

This free version uses the standard 15-item PHQ-15. You answer how much each physical symptom has bothered you over the past 4 weeks (or 2 weeks for fatigue and sleep). You then get a total score from 0 to 30 plus a severity band, with NHS-aligned guidance.

Time

5 minutes

Items

15 items

Score

0-30 (4 bands)

Validation

Kroenke, 2002

Important: Always start with your GP to rule out medical causes for physical symptoms. The PHQ-15 measures severity, not cause.

Why take the PHQ-15?

Brief and well-validated

15 items, decades of use across cultures

Instant, anonymous result

No email, no waiting, no account

NHS-aligned guidance

Concrete next steps based on your score, including GP and Talking Therapies signposting

Track changes over time

Useful during treatment for stress, depression or chronic pain

Sample items from the PHQ-15

A small preview of what you'll be asked about.

Pain

Stomach pain

Pain

Headaches

Cardiovascular

Feeling your heart pound or race

Cardiopulmonary

Shortness of breath

Fatigue

Feeling tired or having little energy

Frequently asked questions

What is the PHQ-15?+
The PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15) is a 15-item questionnaire developed by Kroenke, Spitzer and Williams (2002). It measures the severity of somatic (physical) symptoms — such as pain, fatigue, dizziness or digestive issues — and is one of the most widely used somatic symptom screeners in primary care and research.
How long does the test take?+
About 5 minutes. The 15 items cover common physical symptoms across pain, cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal and fatigue/sleep dimensions. Each item asks how much the symptom has bothered you in the past 4 weeks (or 2 weeks for fatigue and sleep).
Is the test free and anonymous?+
Yes — it is 100% free and anonymous. We do not ask for your name, email, or any personal details to show you your results.
How is the PHQ-15 score interpreted?+
Scores range from 0 to 30. Cut-offs (Kroenke et al. 2002): 0-4 = minimal, 5-9 = mild, 10-14 = moderate, 15-30 = severe. A score of 10 or higher generally indicates clinically significant somatic symptom severity.
What does "somatic symptoms" mean?+
Somatic symptoms are physical sensations (pain, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, GI symptoms, etc.) that you experience in your body. They can have purely medical causes, purely emotional causes, or — most often — a mix of both. The PHQ-15 measures their severity, not their cause.
What should I do if my score is high?+
Always start with your GP to rule out medical causes. Once medical causes are addressed, CBT for somatic symptoms is evidence-based and works well — your GP can refer you to NHS Talking Therapies. On MatchyMatch you can also find verified UK therapists who specialise in health psychology and the mind-body link.
Can the PHQ-15 diagnose somatic symptom disorder?+
No — it is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A high score is information about how much physical distress you are experiencing, not a diagnosis. A GP, psychologist or psychotherapist can do a full assessment.

Ready to take the PHQ-15?

5 minutes. Anonymous. Free. Instant results with NHS-aligned guidance.

Start the somatic symptoms test