MOOD DISORDER QUESTIONNAIRE

In Crisis?

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS THOUGHTS OF DEATH OR SUICIDE, CONTACT A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, CLERGY MEMBER, LOVED ONE, FRIEND, OR CRISIS LINE SUCH AS:

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) OR 1-800-273-TALK(8255), OR CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

It is easier to use this questionnaire by printing it out once it is on your screen.

Click here to take a completely confidential screener and then share the results with your doctor

The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a screening tool to help doctors better distinguish between depression and bipolar disorder. It was developed by a team of psychiatrists, researchers and consumer advocates led by Robert M.A. Hirschfeld of the University of Texas, Medical Branch.

The questionnaire is self-administered and comprised of 5 questions. It asks:

  • if you’ve experienced any of 13 specific behaviors associated with bipolar disorder

  • if the symptoms you checked in question one occurred at the same time

  • about the severity of your symptoms

  • about your family’s history of mental illness

  • if you’ve previously been diagnosed with a mental illness

Early research found the MDQ to have both good sensitivity and specificity. In a 2002 publication, Dr. Hirschfeld reported that the MDQ correctly identified 7 of 10 patients with bipolar disorder, and correctly screened out 9 of 10 patients without bipolar disorder.

You shouldn’t accept a diagnosis of bipolar disorder based on a brief questionnaire. If your doctor or a therapist uses the MDQ or another similar screening tool, you should simply consider this a starting point towards an accurate diagnosis. Your physician should proceed with a full clinical evaluation for bipolar disorder.