General distress, wellbeing and treatment outcomes
General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12)
General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) — administration and scoring reference.
Reference information · Score-entry tool
- Last content update
- 2026-10-26
- Clinical review
- Not independently reviewed
- Source jurisdiction
- See individual sources
- Coverage
- Score-entry tool
| Field | Instrument context |
|---|---|
| Version | GHQ-12; choose binary GHQ or Likert metric |
| Respondent | Self-report |
| Purpose | General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) — administration and scoring reference. |
Clinician score entry
Use the licensed form and choose its scoring convention before calculating a total. Preserve the original response order.
Scores stay in this page’s memory. Reset or leave the page to clear them. Use the exact instrument version and its authorized form.
Administration
Use the licensed form and choose its scoring convention before calculating a total. Preserve the original response order.
Scoring method
Binary GHQ coding is 0,0,1,1, giving 0–12. Likert coding is 0,1,2,3, giving 0–36. Do not mix these conventions within a form.
Interpretation & limitations
- Report the scoring convention explicitly. Screening thresholds depend on population and context.
- Interpret the findings alongside the clinical interview, functioning, history and relevant physical assessment.
- Binary and Likert totals have different ranges and cutoffs. This calculator accepts only binary GHQ totals, not Likert totals.
- Use the original instrument and manual for item wording, rating anchors, missing-data rules and any normative conversions. This reference does not establish a diagnosis or select treatment.