PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Alternatives: Connected Mind vs. Other Screening Tools
Looking for an alternative to the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 that screens beyond depression and anxiety? Connected Mind® with Fast Check® screens for six mental health conditions—depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, and somatic symptom disorder—with eight initial questions.
When further testing is indicated, Connected Mind automatically administers its condition-specific Standardized Assessment Modules (SAMs). Clinicians receive structured screening and testing results for their review and interpretation. The eight questions cover the initial screen; follow-up SAMs take additional time.
One broad screen. Automatic targeted testing. Results where your team works. Connected Mind® with Fast Check® brings depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, and somatic symptom disorder into one clinical workflow—from the patient’s first answers to structured reports for provider review.
Connected Mind uses its own eight-question screen and its own condition-specific Standardized Assessment Modules (SAMs). The initial screen takes approximately one minute. Indicated SAMs follow automatically and take additional time.
Compare at a glance
Compare screening and symptom-rating instruments in one checklist, then see how Connected Mind adds separate follow-up testing and a connected practice workflow.
Comparison instrument sources: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Screening and testing, side by side.
Included — Not included in the instrument alone
Scroll across to compare instruments. Connected Mind stays in view.
| What’s included | Connected MindScreening + testing | PHQ-9 | GAD-7 | PHQ-4 | ASRS6-item screener | MDQ | SNAP-IV26-item scale | CAGE | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screening and symptom ratings | |||||||||
| Depression | Included | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Anxiety | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Included | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| ADHD | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Bipolar disorder | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Substance use disorder | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Alcohol only | Alcohol only |
| Somatic symptom disorder | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Question count | 8 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 13+ | 26 | 4 | 10 |
| Testing · separate follow-up SAMs when indicated | |||||||||
| Depression testing | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Anxiety testing | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| ADHD testing | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Bipolar disorder testing | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Substance use disorder testing | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Somatic symptom disorder testing | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Indicated modules launch automatically | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Practice workflow | |||||||||
| Combined screening and SAM reports | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Automatic EHR report delivery | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
| Built-in team training and support | Included | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone | Not included in the instrument alone |
Testing rows show separate follow-up SAMs, administered when indicated by Connected Mind’s initial screen. Instrument columns compare the standalone questionnaires and rating scales.
Question counts cover the screening or rating forms shown. MDQ has 13 symptom items plus follow-up questions. CAGE and AUDIT focus on alcohol.
Looking more closely at one instrument? Read our focused comparisons of Connected Mind vs. PHQ-9 and Connected Mind vs. GAD-7.
Make fewer handoffs between screening and clinical review
With Connected Mind, the patient’s initial answers guide which SAMs run next. Staff do not need to select a separate starting questionnaire for each suspected condition or manually calculate the results.
The clinician receives structured, condition-specific results and longitudinal history for their review and interpretation. When a patient has more than one concern, the corresponding indicated modules can be completed in the same encounter. See the intake workflow.
Get reports into the workflow you already use
Connected Mind delivers PDF, HTML, and LOINC-coded report content in C-CDA documents through Direct messaging. Your practice controls the included reports and combined or separate delivery. Standard settings are already selected and can be adjusted if needed.
Clinicians can also review results in the portal. Explore EHR integration.
Equip the whole team
Built-in training covers providers, medical assistants, front-desk staff, billers, and administrators. Courses take 15–20 minutes per role, and administrators can track progress and certification.
Report-specific billing guides and billing activity reports put practical information alongside the clinical workflow. Included support and the Connected Mind Support Assistant help staff find the resources they need. Explore the included features.
One provider subscription, unlimited screening and testing
View pricing and subscription options, or request a quick demo to see Connected Mind in action.
Evidence and comparison sources
Connected Mind Fast Check (CMFC) is the research name used for Connected Mind’s screening approach. A 2024 systematic review of screening tools used in adult primary care concluded that CMFC “may be the most promising multiple-mental disorder index test.” The authors highlighted its broad condition coverage and computerized two-step approach. They also noted limitations in the available studies and did not directly compare screening accuracy scores across instruments. Read the systematic review.
In a peer-reviewed validation study involving 234 patients across five independent primary care practices, the initial screen achieved 97% weighted negative predictive power. The study evaluated the initial screen and follow-up SAMs separately. Read the validation study.
Read our Science page for the research context.
Works Cited
1. Rogers R, Hartigan SE, Sanders CE. Identifying Mental Disorders in Primary Care: Diagnostic Accuracy of the Connected Mind Fast Check (CMFC) Electronic Screen. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. 2021;28(4):882–896. View source
2. Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2006;166(10):1092–1097. View source
3. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2001;16(9):606–613. View source
4. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Löwe B. An ultra-brief screening scale for anxiety and depression: the PHQ-4. Psychosomatics. 2009;50(6):613–621. View source
5. NYU Technology Opportunities & Ventures. Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) v1.1 six-question screener: developer information. Accessed October 26, 2026. View source
6. Hirschfeld RMA, et al. Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2000;157(11):1873–1875. View source
7. Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Questionnaire hosted by Oregon Health & Science University. Accessed October 26, 2026. View source
8. SNAP-IV 26-Item Teacher and Parent Rating Scale and scoring guide. Hosted by Oregon Health & Science University. Accessed October 26, 2026. View source
9. National Library of Medicine. Alcohol Use Screening Tests. MedlinePlus. Accessed October 26, 2026. View source
10. Babor TF, Higgins-Biddle JC, Saunders JB, Monteiro MG. AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Guidelines for Use in Primary Care. 2nd ed. World Health Organization; 2001. View source
11. Neulinger B, Ebert C, Lochbühler K, et al. Screening tools assessing mental illness in primary care: A systematic review. European Journal of General Practice. 2024;30(1):2418299. View source
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose Connected Mind as an alternative to the PHQ-9 and GAD-7?
Connected Mind® with Fast Check® combines broader screening with automatic, indicated follow-up testing. Its eight-question initial screen covers depression and anxiety plus four additional conditions. Condition-specific SAMs follow automatically when indicated, and structured reports support clinician review and interpretation. A 2024 systematic review concluded that Connected Mind Fast Check (CMFC) “may be the most promising multiple-mental disorder index test” for primary care.
Source: Read the 2024 systematic review
Why choose Connected Mind instead of separate screening questionnaires?
Connected Mind uses its own eight-question screen for six conditions and its own Standardized Assessment Modules (SAMs). Indicated SAMs are administered automatically, with structured reports, Direct-message EHR delivery, and built-in team training.
Can Connected Mind screen for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar disorder together?
Yes. Connected Mind® with Fast Check® screens for all four, plus substance use disorder and somatic symptom disorder, using eight initial questions. Corresponding SAMs follow automatically when further testing is indicated.
How is Connected Mind different from PHQ-9?
PHQ-9 is a depression screening and severity questionnaire. Connected Mind screens for depression and five additional conditions, then automatically administers separate condition-specific SAMs when further testing is indicated.
How is Connected Mind different from PHQ-4?
PHQ-4 is a four-item depression and anxiety screen. Connected Mind’s initial screen covers six conditions, including ADHD and bipolar disorder, and connects indicated follow-up testing to structured reports and the practice’s EHR workflow.
What is included in the Connected Mind subscription?
The subscription includes unlimited screening and testing, structured reporting, EHR delivery through Direct messaging, built-in role-based training, and support. Visit the pricing page for current rates and subscription options.