Gad 7 and PHQ 9 in Spanish | Ready-To-Print Screening Forms

These two Spanish checklists flag anxiety and depression symptoms in about two minutes and give a simple score you can total by hand.

You want the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 in Spanish because language mismatch can skew answers. A form that reads naturally helps people respond faster, with fewer misunderstandings. This page gives you clean Spanish downloads, plain scoring steps, and guardrails so the results are used the right way.

What These Two Screeners Do And When They Fit

The PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 are short self-report questionnaires used in clinics, schools, and research. They are not a diagnosis on their own. They are a structured way to capture symptom frequency over a recent time window, then turn those responses into a severity score.

Use them when you need a fast baseline, a repeatable check-in over time, or a way to triage who needs a fuller evaluation. Skip them when the person can’t safely answer, can’t read the language, or is in acute distress that needs immediate care.

PHQ-9 In Plain Terms

The PHQ-9 asks about nine depression symptoms over the last two weeks. Each item uses the same four response options, scored 0 to 3, then summed for a total from 0 to 27. The scale has strong validation data in medical settings. Kroenke et al. (2001) on PHQ-9 validity is the classic reference.

GAD-7 In Plain Terms

The GAD-7 asks about seven anxiety symptoms over the last two weeks, using the same 0 to 3 response pattern and a total score from 0 to 21. It was created for generalized anxiety disorder screening and also tracks symptom severity. Spitzer et al. (2006) on the GAD-7 is the original validation paper.

Gad 7 and PHQ 9 in Spanish With Clean Scoring Notes

If you’re printing forms, start with versions that match the standard wording and layout used in health settings. These Spanish PDFs are widely used and easy to share:

• PHQ-9 Spanish PDF
• GAD-7 Spanish PDF

Print at 100% scale so the checkboxes and score boxes land where they should. If you’re using a digital intake packet, keep the response choices lined up on the same row as the item. Small layout shifts can cause mis-clicks.

Spanish Wording Differences

You may see small wording changes across Spanish PDFs. Scoring stays the same as long as the response options map to 0, 1, 2, 3 in order.

Who Can Use These Forms

Many settings hand these out as part of routine intake. A licensed clinician can use them as one data point inside a full assessment. Non-clinical teams can use them as a structured check-in, then hand off results for follow-up when scores are higher.

If you’re running a study, record the exact language version, date administered, and the mode (paper, tablet, phone). That metadata matters when you interpret the data later.

How To Administer The Forms Without Skewing Answers

Most errors come from how the forms are introduced, not from math. A calm script keeps things consistent:

1. Say what the form is: a brief symptom checklist for the last two weeks.
2. Say what it isn’t: it doesn’t label anyone or replace an interview.
3. Ask the person to answer based on how often, not how intense, each symptom felt.
4. Let them ask about any unclear word, then read the item back slowly without rephrasing it.

Give privacy. People answer differently when someone is peeking at the page. If the person uses glasses, offer them. If they struggle with reading, read items out loud at a steady pace and keep your tone flat.

Timing And Setting

Both forms reference the last two weeks, so it helps to anchor that window. A simple prompt like “think about the past 14 days, including today” keeps the frame consistent. Avoid leading examples that hint at the “right” answer.

When you repeat the forms over time, keep the interval similar. Two weeks to four weeks is common in care settings. A mix of random timing makes trends hard to read.

What To Do With Question 9 On The PHQ-9

The PHQ-9 includes an item about thoughts of being better off dead or self-harm. Any non-zero answer deserves direct follow-up the same day, using your site’s safety protocol. The form itself is not a safety plan. If there’s immediate danger, use local emergency services.

Scoring The PHQ-9 And GAD-7 Step By Step

Scoring is straightforward: assign 0, 1, 2, 3 to the four response choices in order, then add the numbers. Do the total in front of the person only if it won’t change how they answer on later items.

PHQ-9 Scoring Steps

• Check that each item has one answer.
• Translate the checkbox to a number (0–3).
• Add all nine items for the total (0–27).
• Note the “difficulty” question separately; it is not in the total, but it adds context.

GAD-7 Scoring Steps

• Check that each item has one answer.
• Map responses to 0–3 in order.
• Add all seven items for the total (0–21).
• Record the same-day context (illness, major stress, meds change) in your chart notes.

What The Scores Usually Mean In Practice

Scores are signals, not verdicts. They help you decide what happens next: a longer interview, a repeat screen, or a referral. Severity bands are widely used for quick triage, but they are not identical to a diagnosis.

Context can change scores. Sleep loss, grief, substance use, pain flares, and medication side effects can lift totals. That doesn’t make the score “wrong.” It means you still need a conversation.

Feature	PHQ-9	GAD-7
Main symptom set	Depression symptoms	Anxiety symptoms
Item count	9 items	7 items
Time window	Last 2 weeks	Last 2 weeks
Response scale	0–3 per item	0–3 per item
Total score range	0–27	0–21
Common severity bands	0–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, 20–27	0–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–21
Extra functional item	Yes (difficulty question)	No separate function item
Best use case	Baseline and follow-up tracking for depressive symptoms	Baseline and follow-up tracking for anxiety symptoms
Where it’s used	Primary care, specialty clinics, research	Primary care, specialty clinics, research
What it cannot do	Confirm a diagnosis without an interview	Confirm a diagnosis without an interview

Choosing A Cut Score For Action

A common practice is to treat a score of 10 or higher as a flag for follow-up on both scales, with higher totals suggesting greater symptom burden. Your workflow should define what “follow-up” means: a same-day check, a scheduled assessment, or a repeat screen in a set number of days.

If you’re screening a population with high medical illness burden, expect more overlap between physical symptoms and mood symptoms. That overlap can inflate PHQ-9 totals, especially on sleep, energy, and appetite items.

When Scores Don’t Match The Person In Front Of You

Sometimes a person reports low scores but looks distressed. Sometimes the total is high and the person says they feel fine. Both patterns happen. Reasons include misunderstanding a word, answering based on a single bad day, or minimizing out of shame.

When the fit feels off, go back to the time window, then review one or two items out loud and confirm what the person meant. Keep it neutral. You’re checking comprehension, not arguing with the response.

Using Spanish Forms With Bilingual Or Mixed-Language Households

Language choice is about comfort, not identity. Offer Spanish and English, then let the person choose. If they switch mid-form, restart in one language so scoring remains clean.

For adolescents in bilingual homes, ask which language they use for feelings words. That small question often gets you cleaner answers than picking a language based on the parent.

Interpreting “Ansiedad” And “Depresión” On The Page

Some people read “ansiedad” as physical restlessness, others read it as worry. Some read “depresión” as sadness only. The items clarify the meaning, so keep attention on the specific symptoms listed, not the label at the top.

Data Handling For Clinics, Schools, And Research Teams

These forms often become part of a record. Treat them like any other health data: limit access, store them securely, and document when they were administered. If you scan paper copies, check that the scan is legible and that the checkbox marks are captured.

When you track scores over time, chart the total and the date. Note major changes like starting or stopping meds.

Total score	PHQ-9 severity label	GAD-7 severity label
0–4	None to minimal	Minimal
5–9	Mild	Mild
10–14	Moderate	Moderate
15–19	Moderately severe	Severe (15–21)
20–27	Severe	—

Common Mistakes That Make Scores Less Useful

Small process slips can blur the signal. These are common:

• Changing the time window. The forms are built around two weeks. If you ask “this week” or “this month,” you’re no longer using the same measure.
• Mixing translations. Pick one Spanish version and stay with it for repeat screens.
• Forgetting the function question. The PHQ-9 difficulty item adds context for triage, and it is not in the total.
• Using totals as labels. A score is a prompt for next steps, not a name for a person.

Paper Vs. Digital Entry

Paper works well when the setting is busy and devices are scarce. Digital entry works well when you want automatic scoring and trend graphs. Either way, keep the item wording identical, keep the response choices aligned, and keep the two-week frame visible on the screen.

When To Seek Same-Day Care

If a person reports thoughts of self-harm, can’t keep themselves safe, is hearing voices, or is severely impaired, treat it as urgent. Use your site’s emergency route and local crisis services. A questionnaire score should never slow that down.

A Simple Print-And-Use Checklist

• Choose one Spanish PHQ-9 and one Spanish GAD-7 PDF and keep those versions consistent.
• Print at 100% scale and test one copy for legibility.
• Introduce the forms with a one-sentence purpose and the two-week time frame.
• Score with the 0–3 mapping and record the date and mode.
• Follow up the PHQ-9 self-harm item the same day when it’s non-zero.
• Use totals to guide next steps, then document the conversation that followed.