A high score is not a diagnosis
The scales (PHQ-9, GAD-7, K10, ISI, IES-R, etc.) are screening tools, not diagnostic tools. A high score means a clinician should evaluate you — not that you have the condition.
What the severity bands mean
Most scales have published cutoffs:
- PHQ-9 (depression) — 5 = mild, 10 = moderate, 15 = moderately severe, 20+ = severe
- GAD-7 (anxiety) — 5 = mild, 10 = moderate, 15+ = severe
- K10 (psychological distress) — 20-24 = mild, 25-29 = moderate, 30+ = severe
- ISI (insomnia) — 8-14 = subthreshold, 15-21 = moderate clinical, 22+ = severe clinical
- IES-R (trauma reactions) — 24+ = clinical concern, 33+ = probable PTSD
Full severity bands and what they mean: see each scale's detail page after taking it.
What you should do at each severity level
- Subthreshold / mild — track your symptom over time. The trend matters more than any single result. Try targeted exercises (Pathways → relevant condition).
- Moderate — a clinician evaluation is warranted. Consider: primary care doctor, mental-health professional via insurance, or an online directory like Inclusive Therapists or Open Path Collective.
- Moderately severe / severe — book a clinician appointment promptly (this week if possible). Don't wait to see if it improves on its own.
- PHQ-9 item 9 ≥ 1 (any thoughts of self-harm or suicide) — call a crisis line today. See crisis resources article.
How to find a clinician
- Insurance directory — your insurer's "find a provider" tool, filtered to mental-health professionals
- Psychology Today directory — psychologytoday.com — searchable by location, insurance, specialty
- Inclusive Therapists — inclusivetherapists.com — vetted for marginalized communities
- Open Path Collective — openpathcollective.org — sliding-scale fees ($30-80/session)
- Find a Helpline — findahelpline.com — for non-US locations
- 988 (US/Canada) — call to talk through what to do; they can refer locally
What our app can and cannot do
- Can — track your scores over time, surface relevant exercises, provide pathways aligned to specific conditions
- Can NOT — diagnose you, treat you, or replace a clinician evaluation
If your scores are improving
Progress is normal. Keep doing what's working. Re-take the scale every 2-4 weeks to confirm the trend (not daily — daily fluctuation is noise).
If your scores are getting worse
Don't wait. Talk to a clinician. The earlier you act, the easier it is to address.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-04