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MDQ

Mood Disorder Questionnaire

A free, validated screening tool for bipolar spectrum patterns. Your answers are scored in your browser — nothing is saved or transmitted.

About this tool

  • •The MDQ is a 13-item, free, validated screening tool for bipolar-spectrum patterns — focused on lifetime episodes of elevated mood or energy.
  • •Each item is yes/no (1 or 0 point). A score of 7 or higher on items 1-13 is the validated screening cutoff for further bipolar evaluation.
  • •The MDQ screens for LIFETIME patterns — not current symptoms. People can have a positive MDQ during a calm period if they have had hypomanic or manic episodes in the past.
  • •A positive MDQ is NOT a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It is a signal that bipolar features may be present, warranting a structured clinical evaluation that includes timing, duration, and functional impact.
  • •CLINICALLY CRITICAL for ketamine planning: bipolar disorder changes how antidepressants and ketamine are used. Standard SSRIs alone can sometimes trigger mania in undiagnosed bipolar patients; ketamine in bipolar requires specific protocols with mood stabilization.
  • •MDQ was developed by Hirschfeld, Williams, Spitzer, Calabrese, Flynn, Keck, Lewis, McElroy, Post, Rapport, Russell, Sachs, and Zajecka (2000). It is in the public domain.

Take the MDQ

These questions ask about LIFETIME patterns — periods of energy, mood, or behavior that were different from your usual self. Answer yes if you have ever experienced the pattern, even if it was years ago.

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

0 of 13 answered

Your answers are processed in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent to anyone — including Tovani — until you choose to.

Frequently asked

Does a positive MDQ mean I have bipolar disorder?

No. The MDQ is a screening tool — about 70% of positive screens are confirmed bipolar on structured clinical interview, and 30% are false positives. A positive screen means "bipolar spectrum patterns are present enough that a careful clinical evaluation is appropriate" — not "you have bipolar disorder." Only a clinician using structured diagnostic interviews can make the diagnosis.

I had one weird high-energy episode 10 years ago. Does that really matter?

Yes — bipolar is a LIFETIME diagnosis. A single hypomanic or manic episode can meet criteria for bipolar disorder even if you have been depressed or stable since. Treatment planning, especially for antidepressants and ketamine, hinges on this history. Honest reporting on the MDQ matters more than current symptom timing.

Why does this matter for ketamine?

Ketamine in bipolar depression is being actively studied but requires specific protocols. Bipolar patients may need concurrent mood stabilizers, more careful monitoring for mood elevation, and dosing adjustments. The early ketamine RCTs explicitly excluded bipolar patients, so the strongest evidence base is for unipolar TRD. For bipolar depression, you want a clinician with specific experience — Tovani screens for bipolar features as part of intake.

Can SSRIs trigger bipolar?

SSRIs don't cause bipolar disorder, but in people with undiagnosed bipolar, antidepressants can sometimes precipitate hypomanic or manic episodes — sometimes the first ever. This is one of the most common ways bipolar is identified. If you've had any "high-energy" episode after starting an antidepressant, that history is especially important to share with your clinician.

I scored 5. Should I still mention it?

Yes, especially if any of the items felt strongly relevant or if you have a family history of bipolar. The MDQ's 7+ cutoff is a research-validated threshold, but clinical judgment matters at the borderline. Tell your clinician what you're thinking — they can ask follow-up questions the MDQ does not cover.

References

  1. Murrough JW et al. 2013, American Journal of Psychiatry. Ketamine RCT in treatment-resistant depression — the protocol excluded bipolar patients precisely because bipolar requires different treatment planning, illustrating why bipolar screening matters before ketamine. PMID 23982301
  2. Sanacora G et al. 2017, JAMA Psychiatry. APA consensus on ketamine in mood disorders — explicitly addresses safety considerations and protocol differences for bipolar depression vs unipolar depression. PMID 28249076

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