A score is not a diagnosis. What can it tell you?
Understand what a questionnaire can offer and what calls for a conversation with a professional.
A starting point, not a label
A questionnaire organizes your answers to a specific set of questions. Its scoring provides context for the subject it explores: the frequency of certain difficulties, well-being, or personality traits. It cannot summarize your history or circumstances.
On Mind, the ASRS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 are screening tools. A result suggesting further assessment does not confirm a condition on its own. A low score cannot rule out every difficulty either.
What does a cutoff mean?
A cutoff is an interpretation rule studied in particular populations. It helps identify when further assessment may be useful. It does not provide your personal probability of having a condition. Scores and cutoffs from different tests are not directly comparable.
What the number cannot describe
Context, how long difficulties have lasted, and their impact on daily life matter. Follow the time period in the questions rather than answering about an unusually good or difficult day. The same number may reflect different experiences.
When should you discuss it?
You can seek professional advice when difficulties concern you, without waiting for a particular score. Bring a concrete example, what has changed, and what you would like to understand. Look at individual answers: they may be more useful to the conversation than the total alone.
Sources and further reading
General information: this content does not provide a diagnosis or treatment recommendation.