Mental Health Screening (PHQ-9, GAD-7, etc.)†
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It can be hard to put into words how you've been feeling — and even harder to know whether what you're experiencing rises to the level of something worth addressing. At Modern Human MD, mental health screenings like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 offer a simple, research-backed way to bring clarity to that question. These short questionnaires help Dr. Tran understand the nature and degree of symptoms you may be carrying — whether that's low mood, persistent worry, loss of motivation, or difficulty sleeping — so that nothing important gets overlooked and care can begin from a place of real understanding.
Why Mental Health Screening Matters at Modern Human MD
Puts language and structure around symptoms that can be difficult to describe on your own
Helps Dr. Tran identify patterns in mood, anxiety, and functioning that may need attention
Serves as a meaningful baseline so that changes over time can actually be tracked
Integrated into your full health picture — not reviewed in isolation from your labs, hormones, or lifestyle
Who It May Help
- You've been feeling off emotionally but aren't sure how to describe or categorize it
- You're managing stress, burnout, or low mood and want to understand the full picture
- You've noticed changes in sleep, energy, motivation, or concentration that concern you
- You're already in therapy or treatment and want an integrative perspective alongside it
- You want your mental health tracked as part of your overall wellness and longevity care
- You're considering TMS or other neuromodulation therapies and need a clinical baseline
- You believe your mood or anxiety may be connected to hormonal shifts or other physical factors
What These Screenings Actually Measure
The PHQ-9 is a nine-question tool designed to assess the presence and severity of depression symptoms — things like persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, sleep changes, and difficulty concentrating. The GAD-7 follows a similar format but focuses on generalized anxiety, capturing how often worry, restlessness, and tension have been affecting your daily life. These aren't diagnostic labels — they're structured starting points. They help Dr. Tran understand how you've been functioning and feeling over recent weeks, so that care decisions are grounded in something more than a brief description of a bad day.
How We Use Your Results
Screening scores are one piece of a larger conversation. Dr. Tran reviews your results alongside your health history, lab work, hormonal status, sleep patterns, and lifestyle — because mental health rarely exists in isolation from the rest of your biology. Mood, anxiety, and energy are often influenced by factors like cortisol, thyroid function, or hormonal changes, and those connections matter. Depending on what comes up, your care plan may include integrative strategies, referrals, hormonal evaluation, or a conversation about TMS neuromodulation — always tailored to what you're actually experiencing and what you're hoping to achieve.
Before Your First Visit
- ✓Reflect on how you've been feeling over the past two weeks — mood, energy, sleep, and motivation are all relevant
- ✓Note any life changes, stressors, or physical symptoms that seem connected to how you're feeling emotionally
- ✓Bring a list of any current medications, supplements, or treatments you're already using for mood or anxiety
- ✓Come with your honest goals — whether that's relief from symptoms, better daily function, or simply understanding yourself more clearly
Important
Mental health screenings like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are validated tools used to support clinical assessment — they are not a diagnosis, and a score alone does not determine a course of treatment. Results are always interpreted in the context of a full evaluation and a real conversation with Dr. Tran. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of self-harm, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Frequently Asked Questions
1What is the PHQ-9 and how long does it take?
The PHQ-9 is a nine-question self-report questionnaire that assesses the frequency and severity of depression-related symptoms over the past two weeks. It typically takes just a few minutes to complete and is widely used in clinical settings because of its reliability and ease of use.
2How is the GAD-7 different from the PHQ-9?
While the PHQ-9 focuses on depression symptoms, the GAD-7 is designed to assess generalized anxiety — capturing things like excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, and difficulty relaxing. Both tools are often used together to get a more complete picture of emotional wellbeing.
3Does a high score mean I have a diagnosis?
Not automatically. A screening score indicates the presence and severity of certain symptoms, but a diagnosis is always made through a broader clinical evaluation. Dr. Tran will review your results in the context of your full health history and have a real conversation with you before any conclusions are drawn.
4Can mental health symptoms be connected to hormonal or physical issues?
Absolutely, and this is one of the things Dr. Tran looks at carefully. Hormonal shifts, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic inflammation can all contribute to mood changes, anxiety, and low energy — which is why mental health screening at Modern Human MD is always reviewed alongside relevant lab work and physical health factors.
5Will my screening results be used to recommend TMS?
They can be part of that conversation. Screening tools like the PHQ-9 help establish a clinical baseline that is relevant when evaluating TMS neuromodulation as a potential treatment option. Dr. Tran will walk you through whether TMS may be appropriate based on the full picture of your health.
6How does Modern Human MD handle payment for mental health services?
Modern Human MD operates as a direct-pay concierge practice. All costs are discussed with you transparently before care begins, so you always know what to expect.
Clarity about how you're feeling is where better care begins.
Dr. Tran uses mental health screenings as part of a comprehensive, integrative evaluation — connecting your emotional wellbeing to your hormones, lifestyle, and biology to build a care plan that actually addresses the full picture.
Quick call • No obligation • Speak directly with our team