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General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12)

General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) Test

Get a quick snapshot of overall mental well being and emotional stability in about 3 minutes. Short and reliable, it flags possible distress fast for screening, clinics, or surveys.

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Questions: 123 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

11,380 views

896 completions

654 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

8/36

Psychological Distress (PD)

Assesses the overall intensity of current psychological distress and reduced emotional stability over the past few weeks.

Low distress

Moderate distress

High distress

0 – 12: Low distress | 13 – 19: Moderate distress | 20 – 36: High distress

A score of 8 falls in the Low distress range, suggesting minimal signs of psychological distress and relatively stable emotional well-being at this time.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Stressed working adults

41%OF USERS

People juggling workload and life pressures use it to quickly check whether stress is affecting their mood, sleep, and daily functioning.

Students under pressure

34%OF USERS

High school and university students take it during exam periods to gauge emotional strain and whether they may need extra support.

Patients in routine checkups

25%OF USERS

People visiting primary care or clinics complete it as a brief screening for general psychological distress before deciding on further assessment.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

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.

Psychological Distress Scale (PDS)

Average

20.1

Normal range

14.1 — 26.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It screens for recent psychological distress and general emotional well-being. It indicates whether further assessment may be needed.

How long does it take to complete?

Completion typically takes about 3 minutes. It contains 12 items.

What time period should responses refer to?

Responses should reflect how the respondent has felt over the past few weeks. The focus is on current functioning rather than long-term history.

How should items be answered?

Select the option that best matches the frequency or severity of each experience in the specified period. Answer all items and avoid overthinking individual questions.

How are results interpreted?

Scores summarize the level of distress relative to typical functioning and may be compared to a cutoff used by the setting. Results do not provide a formal diagnosis.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) Test - Symptoms and Signs

well-being

This brief self-report measure is used to screen for current psychological distress and general mental health status. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) focuses on recent changes in mood, functioning, and subjective well-being rather than establishing a formal psychiatric diagnosis.

Developed by David P. Goldberg, it consists of 12 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Responses are commonly used to flag individuals who may benefit from more comprehensive clinical evaluation or follow-up.

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is often administered in clinical, occupational, educational, and community settings where a rapid indicator of emotional strain is needed. Results should be interpreted in context of the respondent’s circumstances and other available clinical information.

Author: David P. Goldberg

Literature: Argyle, M. The psychology of happiness. Routledge. 2001.; Goldberg, D. P., & Williams, P. A user’s guide to the General Health Questionnaire. NFER-Nelson. 1988.

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