Bipolar test (MDQ)
See what the MDQ covers, how its positive-screen rule actually works, and why a positive screen is a prompt to talk with a clinician rather than a diagnosis. The tone here is careful and non-alarming.
The MDQ (Mood Disorder Questionnaire) is a short self-report screen for the bipolar spectrum. It asks whether a person has ever had a distinct period when several "high", elevated or unusually energetic experiences were present together, and whether those caused problems. It was developed by Hirschfeld and colleagues in 2000 and is the most widely used self-report bipolar screener in the world. It takes about two to three minutes to answer.
The model
What it measures
The MDQ covers a single thing: a lifetime history of manic or hypomanic experiences that point toward the bipolar spectrum. Its thirteen yes/no items ask about times of feeling unusually high or wired, needing less sleep, talking faster, racing thoughts, being easily distracted, doing more, and similar experiences - all keyed to whether they ever happened, not how a person feels today.
Two follow-up questions then matter just as much as the symptom count: whether several of those experiences happened during the same period, and whether they caused problems in daily life. The MDQ is not scored as a simple severity scale; it applies a three-part positive-screen rule, described below. A positive screen does not mean a person has bipolar disorder - it means a conversation with a clinician is worthwhile.
- BBipolar-spectrum screen
A lifetime history of manic or hypomanic experiences, weighed together with whether they co-occurred and caused difficulty.
Facets: Feeling unusually high or wired, Less need for sleep, More talkative than usual, Racing thoughts, Easily distracted, More energy or activity, More risk-taking or impulsivity, Whether several occurred together and caused problems.
The evidence
Science and validity
The MDQ is the most validated self-report bipolar screener internationally. In psychiatric outpatient samples the standard positive-screen rule gives roughly 73 percent sensitivity and 90 percent specificity for bipolar-spectrum disorder (Hirschfeld et al. 2000). In general-population and community samples sensitivity is lower, so a screen-negative result does not rule the spectrum out. The co-occurrence and impairment requirements are what keep specificity high and reduce false positives.
There are no population percentiles. Scoring follows a three-part rule, and all three parts must be met for a positive screen: at least 7 of the 13 symptom items answered "yes"; the follow-up question that several symptoms happened during the same time period answered "yes"; and the impairment question rated a "moderate" or "serious" problem. If any part is not met, the screen is negative. A positive screen indicates that a clinical evaluation for bipolar-spectrum disorder is worth discussing - it is a starting point for a conversation, not a conclusion.
How it is scored
Score bands and what they mean
This is a screening questionnaire. The total is read against established cut-off bands, not a population percentile and not a diagnosis - the bands flag how strongly recent symptoms are showing up, and where it may help to talk to someone.
- Screen negativeScreen negativeOne or more parts of the positive-screen rule are not met; if you have concerns, a professional can still help.
- >= 7 symptoms, co-occurring, moderate/serious impairmentPositive screenAll three parts of the rule are met; it is worth discussing the result with a clinician. A positive screen is not a diagnosis.
How it works
What the questions feel like
Illustrative statements showing the style of the items. These are examples, not the official scored items.
Has there ever been a period when you felt so good or so wired that other people thought you were not your usual self?
Illustrative example in the style of the screener, not the official scored item.
Has there ever been a period when you needed much less sleep than usual and did not really miss it?
Illustrative example, not the official scored item.
Has there ever been a period when your thoughts raced and you could not slow them down?
Illustrative example, not the official scored item.
If several of these happened around the same time, how much of a problem did they cause - none, minor, moderate or serious?
Illustrative example of the follow-up question, not the official scored item.
Honest strengths and limitations
Strengths
- The most widely used and best-validated self-report bipolar-spectrum screener in the world, in 20+ languages.
- Very short (about three minutes) and freely reproducible for clinical and research use.
- A clear, conservative rule (symptoms plus co-occurrence plus impairment) that keeps false positives low.
Limitations
- It is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnosis - a positive screen signals that a clinical conversation may help, never that bipolar disorder is present.
- Sensitivity is lower in the general population, so a screen-negative result does not rule the bipolar spectrum out; concerns are still worth raising with a professional.
- It asks about lifetime experiences, so memory and how the questions are read can shape the answers.
Checking in on how you are doing?
Screeners like this are informational, not a diagnosis. The free Snapshot is a private, structured way to check in on how you have been feeling lately.
Frequently asked questions
What does the MDQ measure?
It screens for a lifetime history of manic or hypomanic experiences that point toward the bipolar spectrum, using thirteen yes/no symptom items plus two follow-up questions about whether the experiences happened together and caused problems. It does not measure how a person feels today.
How is the MDQ scored?
There is no percentile. A positive screen requires all three of these: at least 7 of the 13 symptom items answered "yes"; the follow-up question that several happened during the same time period answered "yes"; and the impairment question rated "moderate" or "serious". If any part is missing, the screen is negative.
Is a positive MDQ screen a bipolar diagnosis?
No. A positive screen is not a diagnosis. It means it would be worth discussing the result with a qualified mental-health professional, who can look at the full picture. Only a clinician can assess for bipolar-spectrum disorder. If you are struggling or in crisis, please contact a qualified professional or a local crisis or helpline service.
Can I take the MDQ on Psychology.me?
This page is informational - we do not offer the MDQ itself. If you would like a private, gentle way to check in on how you have been doing, the free wellbeing Snapshot is a supportive place to start.
Related tests
- Hirschfeld, R. M. A., Williams, J. B. W., Spitzer, R. L., Calabrese, J. R., Flynn, L., Keck, P. E., et al. (2000). Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(11), 1873-1875.
- Hirschfeld, R. M. A., Holzer, C., Calabrese, J. R., Weissman, M., Reed, M., Davies, M., et al. (2003). Validity of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire: a general population study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(1), 178-180.
The MDQ was developed by Robert M. A. Hirschfeld and colleagues (2000); copyright is held by the authors and the instrument is freely reproducible for clinical and research use with attribution. This independent informational page describes the instrument and does not reproduce its scored items.