Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)

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The MDQ is a self-report screening tool designed to identify symptoms associated with bipolar spectrum disorders. It is commonly used in mental health and primary care settings to flag individuals who may benefit from further diagnostic evaluation.

Recommended Frequency: Administer once during intake or initial assessment, and repeat only if there is a significant change in mood presentation or diagnostic uncertainty.

About the MDQ

Developed by Hirschfeld and colleagues, the MDQ screens for a lifetime history of manic or hypomanic symptoms consistent with bipolar I or II disorder. It is not diagnostic but is frequently used as a preliminary tool to identify individuals who may require further evaluation by a mental health professional.

Psychometric Properties

The MDQ has been validated in both psychiatric and primary care populations. In psychiatric settings, it shows high specificity (~0.90) and moderate sensitivity (~0.58). In general medical settings, sensitivity may be lower (~0.28–0.30), though specificity remains strong. The standard scoring method requires:

  • ≥7 symptoms endorsed
  • Symptoms occurred during the same period
  • Symptoms caused moderate or serious problems
Source: Hirschfeld et al., 2000

The Scale

The MDQ includes 13 yes/no items about lifetime experiences of elevated mood, energy, and related behaviors (e.g., decreased need for sleep, impulsivity, rapid speech). It also includes:

  • 1 question about whether symptoms occurred at the same time
  • 1 question about the impact on functioning

Only individuals who meet all three criteria are considered to screen positive under the original scoring method.

Score Range

The MDQ is scored dichotomously (positive/negative screen) based on symptom count, clustering, and impact. A “positive screen” suggests possible bipolar spectrum features and warrants further assessment by a clinician.

Copyright

© Dr. Robert M.A. Hirschfeld. The MDQ is widely distributed by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) for public, clinical, and educational use.

References

  1. Hirschfeld, R. M. A., Williams, J. B. W., Spitzer, R. L., Calabrese, J. R., Flynn, L., Keck, P. E., … & Zajecka, J. (2000). Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(11), 1873–1875. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.157.11.1873

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. HiBoop does not provide diagnostic services or interpret screening results. The MDQ should only be interpreted by qualified clinicians as part of a comprehensive assessment.

Permissions

The MDQ is available for clinical and public health use without cost or licensing restrictions. It may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purposes with appropriate attribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can the MDQ diagnose bipolar disorder?

    No. It flags symptoms for further evaluation but cannot confirm a diagnosis alone.

  • Is it accurate for Bipolar II?

    The MDQ may be less sensitive for Bipolar II. Clinicians should ask about irritability, mixed states, and subthreshold hypomania even if criteria aren’t met. Source

  • Can it be used with teens or older adults?

    It was designed for adults. For youth, consider age-appropriate screeners (e.g., YMRS for mania symptoms).

  • How long does it take to complete?

    About 3–5 minutes.

  • Can clients complete the MDQ remotely?

    Yes. HiBoop’s secure links allow pre-session completion and automatic flagging on the clinician dashboard.