Five positively worded statements about the last two weeks, each rated 0 to 5. Multiply the total by four for a score from 0 to 100. One of the shortest validated measures of well-being, and free to use.
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WHO-5 · Week 4
Over the last two weeks
I have felt cheerful and in good spirits
WHO501At a glance
In trials
Most mental health scales count symptoms. The WHO-5 asks about positive states: feeling cheerful, calm, active, rested and interested. That makes it useful as a general outcome in trials where emotional well-being is relevant but not the main target, such as diabetes, cardiology, oncology, digital health and lifestyle interventions, and as a quick screen for low mood.
It is also well suited to frequent completion on a phone. Five items take under a minute, and the two-week recall period fits a fortnightly or monthly schedule. See EDC for digital health trials for how short questionnaires fit remote studies.
A low WHO-5 score suggests further assessment, for example with the PHQ-9, not a diagnosis. If your protocol uses it for safety screening, define what happens after a low score and who is responsible.
Week 4
56 / 100
Scoring
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Each of five items is rated 0 (at no time) to 5 (all of the time). |
| 2 | Items are summed for a raw score of 0 to 25. |
| 3 | The raw score is multiplied by 4 for a percentage score of 0 to 100. |
| 4 | Commonly used thresholds: 50 or below, poor well-being; 28 or below, likely depression. |
Use the official wording and translations published by the Psychiatric Research Unit. All items must be answered for a valid score.
In Capture
Participants answer from a secure link with no app. Items are stored as coded 0 to 5 values with labels, all five are required, and compliance is visible on the dashboard. Where your protocol uses low scores for follow-up, define who reviews them and how quickly.
From: Capture.Study · Sleep and Recovery Study
Your questionnaire is ready
Hi Anna, your evening diary is open until midnight. Tap the button to start. The link signs you in, no password needed.
Open my tasksQuestions? Reply to reach your study site.
My tasks
Evening diary
Due tonight
Week 4 questionnaire
Opens Monday
Copy the template and complete it on your phone.
Choosing measures
Because the WHO-5 is so short, it pairs well with disease-specific measures without adding burden. In diabetes research it is often collected alongside diabetes distress measures; in digital health trials alongside engagement data; in older populations alongside functional measures.
Where a full health profile is needed, the SF-36 or PROMIS-29 cover more ground; where depressive symptoms are the target, the PHQ-9 is more specific. The WHO-5 earns its place when you want a quick, positive measure of how people are doing.
Before go-live
Published version and translations.
A valid score needs all five.
Raw × 4 in the analysis plan.
Defined action if used for screening.
Matched to the two-week recall.
Higher means better well-being.
It has been used with adolescents as well as adults. Check validation for the age group in your study.
Under a minute.
Five items rated 0 to 5 are summed for a raw score of 0 to 25, which is multiplied by 4 for a percentage score of 0 to 100.
A percentage score of 50 or below is commonly used to prompt depression screening, and 28 or below to indicate likely depression.
Yes. It is free to use.
The last two weeks.
A change of 10 percentage points is often described as clinically significant.
Items are stored as coded values, and the score is derived in analysis.
Free WHO-5 on participants' phones. Free sandbox.