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Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief Version (PQ-B)3

Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief Version (PQ-B) Test

In four minutes, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Version (PQ-B) Test guides you through 21 questions about unusual perceptions, beliefs, and related distress. Your result offers a structured view of endorsed experiences and their emotional impact, supporting thoughtful self-reflection about whether further discussion may be useful.

Questions: 214 minutes

Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief Version (PQ-B): situation and reply bubbles

September 1, 2026September 1, 2026Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

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Daniel Hall Psychologist · Test reviewer

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Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

DistressD

Measures the intensity of anxiety-related distress associated with prodromal symptoms.

example score65/105

65/105Elevatedexample score

0 – 20Low

21 – 105Elevated

A score of 65 falls in the Elevated range, indicating a high level of anxiety-related distress linked to the reported experiences.

SymptomsS

Counts the number of self-reported prodromal experiences that may be associated with elevated psychosis risk.

example score12/21

12/21Elevated (screen positive)example score

0 – 5Low symptom count

6 – 21Elevated (screen positive)

A score of 12 falls in the elevated range, indicating a higher number of reported prodromal symptoms on this screening scale.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Teens and young adults

44%OF USERS

People in their teens or early 20s who notice unusual thoughts, perceptions, or changes in mood and functioning and want a quick screening.

Clients in counseling

33%OF USERS

People already seeing a counselor or therapist for anxiety, depression, trauma, or stress who are experiencing confusing or worrying symptoms that might need further evaluation.

At-risk family members

23%OF USERS

People with a family history of psychotic disorders or recent substance-related concerns who want to check early warning signs and decide whether to seek specialist care.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

AnxietyA

You?

Average54.9

Typical rangeTypical36.6 – 73.1

Possible0 – 105

SymptomsS

You?

Average7.2

Typical rangeTypical3.4 – 11

Possible0 – 21

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Please indicate whether you have experienced the following thoughts, feelings, and experiences during the past month by marking “YES” or “NO” for each item. If your response is “YES,” also indicate how distressing and bothersome the experience was for you. Mark “NO” if the experience occurred only under the influence of alcohol, medications, or other psychoactive substances.

- NO
- YES / Not at all
- YES / Probably not
- YES / Hard to say
- YES / Probably yes
- YES / Definitely
- NO
- YES / Not at all
- YES / Probably not
- YES / Hard to say
- YES / Probably yes
- YES / Definitely
- NO
- YES / Not at all
- YES / Probably not
- YES / Hard to say
- YES / Probably yes
- YES / Definitely

These are 3 of the 21 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief Version (PQ-B) Test - Description and methodology of the test

psychopathology

schizophrenia

For readers who want to examine personal experiences in a structured way, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Version (PQ-B) Test provides a focused self-report screen. It is intended for people reflecting on experiences that may be relevant to psychosis risk screening, especially when those experiences feel concerning, disruptive, or difficult to interpret. The result separates endorsed experiences from associated distress.

What This Assessment Explores

The questions cover perceptual changes, beliefs that feel unusual, suspiciousness, altered reality, thought-control concerns, intense thoughts, communication difficulty, and experiences others may not notice. Endorsement does not by itself indicate a disorder; the result adds context by showing whether experiences feel distressing or disruptive.

The displayed scales organize the result into two perspectives:

Distress (0-105) assesses the severity of anxiety-related distress associated with prodromal symptoms. Its bands are Low (0-20) and Elevated (21-105).
Symptoms (0-21) reflects the number of endorsed prodromal symptoms that may indicate risk for psychotic disorders and is used to screen for psychosis risk. Its bands are Low symptom count (0-5) and Elevated (screen positive) (6-21).

People may use the questionnaire to describe confusing experiences before discussing them with a qualified professional. It can clarify whether an experience feels neutral or disruptive.

Methodology and Scientific Basis

Each item first asks whether an experience has occurred, then asks how much fear, worry, anxiety, or practical difficulty it causes. Responses run from no experience to yes, with impact choices from not at all to definitely and an uncertainty option. This separates symptom endorsement from emotional weight.

Scoring follows the two displayed dimensions: the symptom dimension reflects endorsed experiences, while the distress dimension reflects associated severity ratings. The questionnaire reports the displayed ranges and bands, but no further point-allocation rule should be inferred.

The assessment is conceptually consistent with the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B; Loewy et al., 2011), a shortened self-report screen evaluated against structured interviews, and with the earlier Prodromal Questionnaire. Elevated results may warrant additional consultation. Research on psychosis-like experiences supports giving distress weight because unusual experiences are not equally concerning.

As an online presentation, this PQ-B screening questionnaire is not documented as a standardized administration, and its scoring should not be treated as normed beyond the displayed reporting bands. Current context and response style can affect self-reported results, while endorsed experiences may require broader assessment.

Literature:

Loewy, R. L., Pearson, R., Vinogradov, S., Bearden, C. E., & Cannon, T. D. (2011). Psychosis risk screening with the Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief version (PQ-B). Schizophrenia Research, 129(1), 42–46. 10.1016/j.schres.2011.03.029
Loewy, R. L., Bearden, C. E., Johnson, J. K., Raine, A., & Cannon, T. D. (2005). The prodromal questionnaire (PQ): Preliminary validation of a self-report screening measure for prodromal and psychotic syndromes. Schizophrenia Research, 79(1), 117–125. 10.1016/j.schres.2005.03.007
Kline, E., Thompson, E., Bussell, K., Pitts, S. C., Reeves, G., & Schiffman, J. (2014). Psychosis-like experiences and distress among adolescents using mental health services. Schizophrenia Research, 152(2–3), 498–502. 10.1016/j.schres.2013.12.012
Herrera, S., & Fietzer, A. W. (2021). What’s the risk? The frequency of false positives in psychosis risk screening instruments. Psychological Services, 18(2), 137–146. 10.1037/ser0000363

Updated: 2026-09-01