The Right [FN] Questions

MDQ

Mood Disorder Questionnaire -- Bipolar Screener

The MDQ is a three-part questionnaire designed to screen for a history of manic or hypomanic episodes -- the experiences associated with bipolar disorder. Part 1 asks about lifetime experiences. Parts 2 and 3 ask follow-up questions about those experiences. A positive result requires specific criteria across all three parts.

Answer yes or no to each. These questions ask about your whole life, not just recent weeks.

Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self and...
Question 1 of 13...you felt so good or so hyper that other people thought you were not your normal self, or you were so hyped up that you got into trouble?
Question 2 of 13...you were so irritable that you shouted at people or started fights or arguments?
Question 3 of 13...you felt much more self-confident than usual?
Question 4 of 13...you got much less sleep than usual and found you didn't really miss it?
Question 5 of 13...you were much more talkative or spoke much faster than usual?
Question 6 of 13...thoughts raced through your head or you couldn't slow your mind down?
Question 7 of 13...you were so easily distracted by things around you that you had trouble concentrating or staying on task?
Question 8 of 13...you had much more energy than usual?
Question 9 of 13...you were much more active or did many more things than usual?
Question 10 of 13...you were much more social or outgoing than usual; for example, you telephoned friends in the middle of the night?
Question 11 of 13...you were much more interested in sex than usual?
Question 12 of 13...you did things that were unusual for you or that other people might have thought were foolish or risky?
Question 13 of 13...spending money got you or your family into trouble?

If you answered yes to more than one question above, this follow-up applies.

Part 2If 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 these experiences cause you?

Part 3How much of a problem did any of these experiences cause you -- like being unable to work; having family, money, or legal troubles; getting into arguments or fights?

Complete all three parts to continue

Screening criteria
If you are in crisis or need to talk to someone right now: call or text 988 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, available across Canada, 24 hours a day). You do not need to be in immediate danger to call.
What you can do with this
Bring it in Tell your doctor your Part 1 count and how Parts 2 and 3 came out. It gives them a clear picture to work from.
Share it Show it to someone you trust. Sometimes having words for it is the first step.
Keep it You do not have to do anything with it right now. Sometimes just having language for your own history is enough.