Bipolar Disorder Test

Who should take this bipolar disorder test?

The symptoms of bipolar disorder are far more intense than ordinary mood swings and can create disruptions in your daily life and relationships. Your mood can swing from highs of mania to the lows of depression, and trigger pronounced changes in your energy levels and how you think, feel, and behave.

A manic episode can leave you talking a mile a minute, sleeping very little, behaving recklessly, picking fights, or even experiencing delusions. At the other extreme, bipolar depression can cause you to move and speak very slowly, sleep more than usual, feel restless, guilty, and irritable, or even lose touch with reality.  

However, bipolar symptoms can also vary widely from one person to another, often depending on the type of bipolar disorder. While some people are more prone to either manic or depressive episodes, for example, others experience both equally often. Similarly, some people can experience far more severe and more frequent mood swings than others.

The following bipolar disorder test is based on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) designed to identify mood symptoms often found in bipolar disorder. It can be a useful screening tool for adults and adolescents aged 12 and above. While no test can replace a medical diagnosis, taking this short quiz may help you decide if you should speak to a mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Take the bipolar disorder test

Answer the following 15 questions, choosing the most appropriate response. It's not just your total score that's important, but also the specific questions you answer with a “Yes”.

Quiz

Bipolar Disorder Test

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Factors that can impact your score

When considering your answers, it’s important to remember that factors other than bipolar disorder can also cause changes in mood and energy levels. Certain medical conditions or the use of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications can also trigger similar experiences.

• Using substances such as cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines can trigger manic episodes.
• Medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, appetite suppressants, corticosteroids, over-the-counter cold medicine, caffeine, and thyroid medications can also cause mania.
• The use of alcohol and tranquilizers can initiate depression symptoms.
• Other medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, and Cushing's syndrome can also affect your mood and energy levels.
• Other factors such as sleep deprivation, seasonal changes, caffeine, vitamin B12 deficiency, and stress can also impact mood and energy.

Getting an accurate bipolar disorder diagnosis

Making an accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be difficult even for medical professionals. In many cases, it can take numerous consultations to correctly identify bipolar disorder and decide on the best treatment plan. You can't diagnose the disorder on your own and the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is just one type of screening tool.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder can often be difficult to distinguish from other mental health conditions, such as major depression, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. Therefore, it's vital that you see a mental health professional to make an accurate diagnosis. Try to find a psychiatrist with experience treating bipolar disorder. Read: Bipolar Disorder Symptoms, Causes, Types, and Diagnosis.

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