Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)
13-item bipolar spectrum screening
Do your moods swing between high-energy highs and crushing lows? The MDQ screens for bipolar spectrum patterns. 13 yes/no questions. Takes about 5 minutes. Screening only - not a diagnosis.
About the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)
Ever feel like your moods hijack your life — days where you're unstoppable, followed by crashes that leave you barely functioning? The MDQ looks at that pattern. 13 yes/no questions that screen for bipolar spectrum features. Hirschfeld's team designed it in 2000 to flag people who might benefit from a proper clinical evaluation.
The MDQ has three sections: 13 yes/no symptom questions, plus two follow-up questions about whether symptoms occurred in the same period and how much impairment they caused.
A positive screen requires all three: >=7 symptoms plus co-occurrence plus moderate-to-severe impairment. This three-criteria design aims to keep specificity high and false positives low.
Score Interpretation
Total 0-13 (1 point per "Yes").
- 0-6: Negative screen. Below the symptom threshold. The MDQ has lower sensitivity for Bipolar II, so a negative screen does not completely rule it out if symptoms persist.
- 7-13: Preliminary positive. A complete positive screen also requires symptom co-occurrence and at least moderate impairment. If all three criteria are met, a clinical evaluation for bipolar spectrum disorder is recommended.
Important Notes
This is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A positive screen does not confirm bipolar disorder. Many other conditions (ADHD, anxiety disorders, substance use) can produce false positives.
Reliability and Validity
- Internal consistency: alpha = 0.82-0.87
- Test-retest: 0.88 (2-week interval)
- Convergence with SCID: sensitivity 0.73, specificity 0.90 (Bipolar I)
Reference
Hirschfeld, R. M. A., Williams, J. B. W., Spitzer, R. L., Calabrese, J. R., Flynn, L., Keck, P. E., ... & Zajecka, J. (2000). Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire. *American Journal of Psychiatry*, 157(11), 1873-1875.Scoring Guide
Score 0-13. Positive requires: (1) >=7 symptoms (2) co-occurrence (3) moderate+ impairment.Result Interpretation
After completing the 13 questions, you'll get a detailed results report right away:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. You don't need an account or login.