Screening · MDQ
Mood Disorder Questionnaire
Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self and...
Timeframe: any time in your life
For self-understanding only, not a diagnosis · you can exit anytime; answers are not saved or uploaded
About this instrument
The MDQ (Mood Disorder Questionnaire) is the most widely used self-screener for bipolar spectrum conditions. It asks whether you have ever had a period when you were not your usual self, with unusually high energy or irritability. Answer for your lifetime experience — not just recently.
The MDQ was published by Robert Hirschfeld and colleagues in 2000. It targets the hallmark of bipolar disorder — a manic or hypomanic episode: a distinct period of unusually elevated or irritable mood with excessive energy and impulsive behavior.
Scoring is conditional, not a simple count: a positive screen requires at least 7 of 13 symptom items, those symptoms occurring during the same period, and at least moderate real-world problems resulting. All three conditions together.
Bipolar disorder is frequently missed — many people are treated for depression for years first. If you have had a genuine period of being 'a different person' energy-wise, this result is worth bringing to a doctor.
Source: Mood Disorder Questionnaire (Hirschfeld et al., 2000) · The MDQ is publicly distributed in clinical and academic documents; Chinese items are our careful translation of the published wording. · Original source
Item preview (15)
Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self and...
- ...you felt so good or so hyper that other people thought you were not your normal self or you were so hyper that you got into trouble?
- ...you were so irritable that you shouted at people or started fights or arguments?
- ...you felt much more self-confident than usual?
- ...you got much less sleep than usual and found you didn't really miss it?
- ...you were much more talkative or spoke much faster than usual?
- ...thoughts raced through your head or you couldn't slow your mind down?
- ...you were so easily distracted by things around you that you had trouble concentrating or staying on track?
- ...you had much more energy than usual?
- ...you were much more active or did many more things than usual?
- ...you were much more social or outgoing than usual, for example, you telephoned friends in the middle of the night?
- ...you were much more interested in sex than usual?
- ...you did things that were unusual for you or that other people might have thought were excessive, foolish, or risky?
- ...spending money got you or your family into trouble?
- If you checked YES to more than one of the above, have several of these ever happened during the same period of time?
- How much of a problem did any of these cause you — like being unable to work; having family, money or legal troubles; getting into arguments or fights?