Somatic Symptom Scale (PHQ-15)
15-item checklist of common physical complaints over the past 4 weeks
Do you have aches, pains, or physical symptoms that will not let up? The PHQ-15 lists 15 common physical complaints and asks how much they bothered you over the past 4 weeks.
What does the PHQ-15 measure?
The PHQ-15 is the somatic symptom member of the Patient Health Questionnaire family. Instead of asking how you feel in general, it gives you a checklist of 15 specific physical complaints - stomach pain, chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, trouble sleeping - and asks how much each bothered you over the last 4 weeks. It is straightforward, a little boring to fill out, and useful. Kroenke, Spitzer, and Williams published it in 2002, building on their earlier work with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. The idea was to give primary care doctors a quick way to gauge how much physical discomfort a patient was carrying, without needing an hour-long interview.What the Scores Mean
The severity bands are tied to clinical research, but you do not need to be a researcher to make sense of them:- 0-4 Minimal. Your body is not making a lot of noise. That is good.
- 5-9 Low. Some symptoms, but not overwhelming. Keep an eye on it.
- 10-14 Medium. Symptom load is noticeable. Often overlaps with stress, anxiety, or mood issues.
- 15-30 High. You are dealing with a lot of physical discomfort. A full checkup is a reasonable next step.
A Note on What PHQ-15 Does and Does Not Do
The PHQ-15 tells you how much physical discomfort you are reporting. It does not tell you what is causing it. Somatic symptoms can come from medical conditions, stress, anxiety, or a combination. If your score is elevated, the right next step is a medical checkup, not jumping to conclusions.Scoring Guide
Total range 0-30. 0-4=Minimal, 5-9=Low, 10-14=Medium, 15-30=High. Item 4 (menstrual) - women answer normally, men select 0. No reverse-scored items.Result Interpretation
After completing the 15 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.