Deep Tests catalogue
Free Online Mental Health Test — 3 Clinically Validated Self-Assessments
Pick a free online mental health test by symptom. Every self-assessment uses a clinically validated instrument (PHQ-9, GAD-7, ASRS) aligned with DSM-5 and ICD-11. Anonymous, no account, instant per-dimension score.
How does a free online mental health test work on Deep Tests?
You pick a test, you answer in 3 to 5 minutes, you get instant results — a per-dimension score aligned with DSM-5, free, anonymous, no account. Three clinically validated instruments (PHQ-9, GAD-7, ASRS) cover depression, anxiety and adult ADHD. If you are in immediate distress, call 988 (US/Canada, 24/7) or the Samaritans on 116 123 (UK/IE) before taking an online test.
Adult ADHD
WHO ASRS-v1.1 scale, 3 dimensions: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.
Generalised anxiety
GAD-7 self-assessment, DSM-5 clinical threshold.
Depression
Screening based on the PHQ-9 (9 items, 3 minutes).
How to choose the right free online mental health test by symptom
Three symptom families point to three different clinical instruments. If you are torn between several leads, take the tests in the order suggested below — each one runs 3 to 5 minutes and elevated scores on two scales are common (the depression + anxiety comorbidity reaches 50 to 60% in clinical populations). The table below saves you from picking a tool that does not match what you are actually noticing about yourself. It does not replace a professional opinion: a screening score signals risk, not a diagnosis. For autism, burnout, gifted profiles, or bipolar disorder, see the corresponding guides — those tests are not yet in the catalogue.
Find the row that matches your last 2 weeks the closest. The right column tells you which test to take first.
| Symptoms | Recommended test |
|---|---|
| Persistent low mood, loss of interest, creeping fatigue, sleep or appetite changes, dark thoughts for more than 2 weeks | Depression test (PHQ-9, 9 items) |
| Uncontrollable worry, muscle tension, restlessness, irritability, sleep disrupted by rumination for more than 6 months | Anxiety test (GAD-7, 7 items) |
| Chronic inattention, frequent forgetfulness, severe procrastination, mental or physical restlessness present since childhood | Adult ADHD test (ASRS-v1.1, 18 items) |
The clinical instruments behind every free mental health test online
Every mental health test online free in this catalogue is built on a peer-reviewed clinical instrument published in the international literature. The severity bands, sensitivity and specificity shown below come straight from the original validation studies (PMIDs cited in §6). These are the same scales psychiatrists and primary-care doctors use for screening in their offices. Transparency on this data is deliberate: a free mental health test that names neither instrument, author, nor cutoff has no scientific weight. The table below compares PHQ-9, GAD-7 and ASRS-v1.1 on the metrics that matter — number of items, duration, score range, severity bands, diagnostic performance at the recommended cutoff, and validated population.
| Instrument | Items | Duration | Max score | Severity bands | Sensitivity | Specificity | Validated population | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHQ-9 | 9 | 3 min | 27 | 0–4 minimal · 5–9 mild · 10–14 moderate · 15–19 moderately severe · 20–27 severe | 88% at cutoff ≥10 | 88% at cutoff ≥10 | Primary-care adults (n=6,000) | Kroenke 2001 (PMID 11556941) |
| GAD-7 | 7 | 2 min | 21 | 0–4 minimal · 5–9 mild · 10–14 moderate · 15–21 severe | 89% at cutoff ≥10 | 82% at cutoff ≥10 | Primary-care adults (n=2,740) | Spitzer 2006 (PMID 16717171) |
| ASRS-v1.1 | 18 (6 in screener) | 5 min | 24 (Part A) / 72 (full) | ≥4 dark-shaded items in Part A = probable ADHD, full work-up advised | 68.7% at cutoff ≥4 | 99.5% at cutoff ≥4 | Adults 18–44, WHO sample (n=668) | Kessler 2005 (PMID 15841682) |
How to read your score on a free online mental health test
Each self-assessment ends with instant results — a confidential, anonymous severity score the moment you finish. A screening score places your profile in a standardised severity band — it does not tell you whether you have a disorder, it tells you where your symptom intensity sits relative to a reference sample. Three rules to read your result well: (1) the band matters more than the exact number — moving from 9 to 10 on the PHQ-9 shifts you from mild to moderate, but a one-point gap is not clinically meaningful on its own; (2) past the clinical cutoff (≥10 PHQ-9, ≥10 GAD-7, ≥4 Part-A items on ASRS), consultation is recommended; (3) a sub-threshold score does not rule out a disorder — a PHQ-9 of 7 in someone suffering for 6 months is still a signal worth bringing to a mental health professional.
PHQ-9 — depression severity bands
0–4 minimal · 5–9 mild · 10–14 moderate · 15–19 moderately severe · 20–27 severe. Clinical cutoff: ≥10. From this band on, a consultation with a primary care physician, a psychologist or a psychiatrist is recommended. Question 9 (suicidal ideation) systematically triggers a safety-net callout, regardless of the total score.
GAD-7 — anxiety severity bands
0–4 minimal · 5–9 mild · 10–14 moderate · 15–21 severe. Clinical cutoff: ≥10. At this threshold, anxiety has moved past everyday worry and a professional opinion is indicated. The GAD-7 screens for generalised anxiety disorder, but its items also catch panic, social phobia and post-traumatic stress signals — a moderate score warrants a clinical interview to differentiate.
ASRS-v1.1 — adult ADHD screening threshold
The ASRS works differently: Part A bundles the 6 most predictive items, and the screening threshold is ≥4 items checked in the dark-shaded zone (not a numerical total). Above that, adult ADHD is probable and a full work-up by a psychiatrist or neuropsychologist is recommended. Part B (12 additional items) refines the profile by dimension: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.
Screening vs diagnosis: what a free online mental health test can and cannot do
A free online mental health test is a screening tool, not a medical diagnosis. Screening answers a single question: “are there enough signals to look further?”. A diagnosis, on the other hand, requires a clinical interview led by a mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, primary-care physician), a careful look at your personal history, sometimes additional exams, and a differential reading that rules out other plausible causes. No online questionnaire replaces that — not the PHQ-9, not the GAD-7, not the ASRS, and not whatever else you find elsewhere on the web. You can download a confidential written report of your score and bring it to your next appointment with a mental health professional to anchor the conversation. Deep Tests does not replace consultation and makes no diagnostic promise. If distress has lasted more than 2 weeks, please book an appointment.
Frequently asked questions about free mental health tests online
Start from your last 2 weeks. If low mood, loss of interest and fatigue dominate, begin with the PHQ-9 (depression test). If uncontrollable worry and physical tension are the lead, begin with the GAD-7 (anxiety test). If inattention, forgetfulness, and restlessness have been around since childhood, begin with the ASRS-v1.1 (adult ADHD test). The decision table in section §1 gives you the full mapping.
No limit. You can take all 3 tests in the same session if several symptoms apply — it is even recommended when you are unsure. The depression + anxiety comorbidity reaches 50 to 60% in clinical populations, and adult ADHD often co-occurs with one or the other. Each test stays anonymous, no account, and you can retake it a few weeks later to track how your score moves.
Screening answers “are there enough signals to look further?”. That is what a free mental health test does in 3 to 5 minutes — instant results, no account, no email. A diagnosis is set after a clinical interview by a psychiatrist, psychologist or primary-care physician, who cross-references your answers with your history, your context, and rules out other causes against DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria. A high score on a test is not a diagnosis — it is a strong reason to consult.
It happens often and it is not a mistake. A moderate-to-severe score simultaneously on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 points to depression + anxiety comorbidity, present in about 1 in 2 outpatients. A positive ASRS combined with a high PHQ-9 may flag ADHD complicated by depressive episodes. In all those cases, book an appointment with a psychiatrist or your primary-care physician — differential reading happens in consultation, not online.
Yes, and it is encouraged. The score, severity band and per-dimension breakdown act as an objective, confidential conversation starter in clinical interviews. Many practitioners use the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 themselves in their offices: arriving with a pre-computed score saves time and orients the discussion. You can download the premium report — a written PDF report you can share — or simply note your score and the date you took the test.
The PHQ-9 is validated from age 13 (PHQ-A is the adolescent version), the GAD-7 is widely used as a screening tool in adolescents, but the ASRS-v1.1 is adults only (18+). For adolescent ADHD, dedicated scales exist (Conners-3, SDQ) and are not part of this catalogue. If a teen is suffering, contact a child psychiatrist or a youth helpline (988 US/Canada, Childline 0800 1111 UK) before relying on an online test.
Scientific sources and clinical instruments
- PHQ-9 — Kroenke K., Spitzer R.L., Williams J.B.W. (2001). The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med, 16(9), 606–613.
- GAD-7 — Spitzer R.L., Kroenke K., Williams J.B.W., Löwe B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med, 166(10), 1092–1097.
- ASRS-v1.1 — Kessler R.C., Adler L., Ames M. et al. (2005). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychol Med, 35(2), 245–256.
- DSM-5-TR — American Psychiatric Association (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision.
- ICD-11 — World Health Organization (2022). International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision.