Mood Disorder Questionnaire
The Mood Disorder Questionnaire is a brief self-report screen for bipolar-spectrum symptom history. This page is for clinics. It is not a diagnosis and not a public test.
Overview
What is the MDQ?
The MDQ asks about a cluster of mania/hypomania-related experiences, whether they happened in the same period, and how much they caused problems. It is a screen to support further assessment, not a bipolar diagnosis.
Development and clinical use
Hirschfeld and colleagues introduced the MDQ as a short screen for bipolar spectrum disorder in outpatient settings. Later papers examined performance in different populations, which is why local base rates and setting matter.
- Mode
- Adult self-report
- Focus
- Mania/hypomania history
- Typical use
- Case finding for review
- Not a diagnosis
- Interview still required
- Setting sensitivity
- Population matters
- Clinical role
- Screening support
Administration
A focused client experience
Adults complete the screen, then a clinician reviews the pattern beside longitudinal history, medication, sleep, substance use, and interview. A positive screen is a reason to assess, not a label.
- One question at a time with visible progress
- Large keyboard-operable response choices
- Previous, next, and answer-review steps
- Clear confirmation that results go to the clinic
The illustration uses generic choices and does not reproduce MDQ items.
Report showcase
Designed to make evidence easy to review
The downloadable synthetic example illustrates report layout using invented response patterns, without patient data or instrument questions.
- Named instrument, version, and provenance
- Item-level response pattern without source wording
- Methodology, references, and clinical boundary
- Responsible clinician review rather than automated conclusions
Clinician review required
Methodology
Understand the measure and its scoring conventions
Published scoring rules exist in the source literature. This page does not independently verify a cutoff or digital form. Use the official instrument and population notes for your setting.
References
- Original MDQ paperHirschfeld RMA et al. Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. Am J Psychiatry. 2000;157(11):1873-1875.
Questions
What clinics ask before they evaluate the MDQ
These answers stay inside educational catalogue scope. They do not replace official manuals or clinician judgement.
What is the MDQ used for?
It is a short screen for bipolar-spectrum history that can prompt a fuller mood assessment. It is not a diagnostic interview.
If the MDQ is positive, is the person bipolar?
No. A clinician still has to take a longitudinal history and consider other explanations.
Can I complete MDQ here?
No. This landing does not collect answers or return a score.
Should every intake include MDQ?
Only if the responsible clinician judges it relevant to the clinical question.