Fort Lauderdale Mental Health Care: Why We Use PHQ-9 and GAD-7

When new patients in Fort Lauderdale come to Calmer Being, one of the first steps in care may include completing short questionnaires called the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. These tools aren’t tests you can “pass” or “fail”—they’re simple, evidence-based ways to measure symptoms of depression and anxiety. Here’s why we use them, how they work, and what they mean for your treatment plan.

What Is the PHQ-9?

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a brief screening tool that helps identify and measure the severity of depression.

• 9 questions cover symptoms like mood, sleep, energy, appetite, and concentration.

• Each response is scored from 0 (“not at all”) to 3 (“nearly every day”).

• The total score helps providers see whether symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe.

What Is the GAD-7?

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a companion tool for anxiety.

• 7 questions assess worry, nervousness, restlessness, and physical tension.

• Like the PHQ-9, each answer is scored 0–3, giving a snapshot of symptom severity.

• It helps track whether anxiety is improving, staying the same, or getting worse over time.

Why These Tools Matter in Fort Lauderdale Care

In a busy city like Fort Lauderdale—where work demands, traffic, and coastal living pressures all collide—mental health symptoms can get overlooked or brushed off. These tools help patients and providers:

• Start the conversation with something concrete

• Track progress across appointments

• Guide treatment planning, including therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication

• Support insurance documentation for ongoing care coverage

They’re not replacements for conversation—but they provide structure to make sure nothing important gets missed.

How Calmer Being Uses Them

At Calmer Being, these questionnaires are part of our whole-person approach:

1. Evaluation: You may complete PHQ-9 and GAD-7 forms at your first visit (telehealth or in-person).

2. Treatment planning: Results help guide decisions about therapy, medication, or supportive care.

3. Follow-ups: We repeat them regularly to measure changes and adjust treatment as needed.

4. Patient empowerment: Seeing your own scores improve over time can be encouraging—it shows progress you might not always feel day-to-day.

Insurance, Privacy, and Telehealth

• Insurance: Most major carriers (United Healthcare, Aetna, BCBS, Humana, and more) cover visits where these tools are used.

• Telehealth: Patients in Fort Lauderdale can complete PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires online before a virtual appointment.

• Privacy: Results are kept confidential and are only used to guide your care—not shared beyond your treatment team.

Key Takeaways for Fort Lauderdale Patients

• PHQ-9 = depression screening, 9 questions

• GAD-7 = anxiety screening, 7 questions

• Both tools guide care, track progress, and improve treatment outcomes

• Used alongside conversations, not instead of them

Take the Next Step

If you’re in Fort Lauderdale and want clear, structured mental health care, Calmer Being can help. Our providers use tools like PHQ-9 and GAD-7—combined with personalized care—to create treatment plans that fit your life.

Contact Calmer Being Today

• Phone: (407) 906-5473

• Email: info@calmerbeing.org

• Book Online: Same-day telehealth often available

Your mental health deserves clarity. With the right tools and compassionate support, progress is measurable—and achievable.