What does a positive MDQ result mean?

A positive screen (7 or more "Yes" answers to Part 1, symptoms co-occurring in the same period, and moderate or severe functional impairment) suggests a higher likelihood of a bipolar spectrum disorder. It does not confirm a diagnosis — a qualified clinician must evaluate further.

How accurate is the MDQ?

The MDQ has a sensitivity of about 73% and a specificity of about 90% for bipolar I disorder in outpatient psychiatric settings. Sensitivity is lower in primary care and community samples, so a negative result does not rule out bipolar disorder.

Is this tool a substitute for professional diagnosis?

No. The MDQ is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic tool. A formal diagnosis of bipolar disorder requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation including a full psychiatric history, mental status examination, and consideration of medical causes.

Can I use this tool to screen for bipolar II disorder?

The MDQ was originally validated for bipolar I. Research shows lower sensitivity for bipolar II and bipolar NOS, partly because hypomanic episodes are less impairing. A negative MDQ does not exclude bipolar II.

Is my data stored or shared?

No. All responses and scoring happen entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server and nothing is stored anywhere.

MDQ Bipolar Screening

Answer 15 questions from the validated MDQ to screen for bipolar disorder symptoms and get an interpreted score.

Part 1 — Lifetime Mood Symptoms

Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self and...

Part 2 — Same Time Period

If you checked YES to more than one of the above, did several of these experiences occur during the same period of time?

Yes No

Part 3 — Functional Impact

How much of a problem did any of these cause you — such as being unable to work; having family, money, or legal trouble; getting into arguments or fights?

No problem Minor problem Moderate problem Serious problem

Complete all three parts
and click Calculate to see your result.

About the MDQ: Developed by Hirschfeld et al. (2000) and validated in outpatient psychiatric and primary care settings. Sensitivity ~73%, specificity ~90% for bipolar I in specialty care. Lower sensitivity for bipolar II.

Summary

The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a validated self-report screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorders, developed by Hirschfeld et al. (2000). It asks about 13 lifetime mood-related experiences, whether multiple symptoms occurred in the same time period, and the functional impact of those symptoms. A positive screen (7+ symptoms, same-period clustering, and moderate-to-severe impairment) warrants clinical follow-up. This tool does not diagnose — it flags cases that should be evaluated by a clinician.

How it works

Read each of the 13 symptom questions and check "Yes" for any that have applied to you at some point in your life.
Indicate whether several of these experiences occurred during the same period of time.
Rate the level of difficulty those experiences caused in daily functioning.
The tool counts your "Yes" responses and applies the three-part MDQ scoring rule.
Your result shows whether the screen is positive or negative, with an explanation of what that means.

Use cases

Understand whether your mood history warrants talking to a mental health professional.
Complete before a psychiatric evaluation to give your clinician structured baseline data.
Screen for bipolar spectrum symptoms that may have been previously attributed to depression alone.
Differentiate between unipolar and bipolar presentations in educational or clinical training contexts.
Support shared decision-making between patients and prescribers about mood stabilizer evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-15 · Reviewed by Nham Vu