How the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) Can Help Diagnose Bipolar Disorder

What is the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)?

The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a popular self-report questionnaire that helps healthcare providers and patients identify symptoms of bipolar disorder. The MDQ specifically focuses on symptoms of hypomania and mania; these are the mood states that distinguish bipolar disorders from other mood disorders, like depression.

Misdiagnosis is common among patients with bipolar disorder, but its consequences can be potentially devastating. That’s why the MDQ exists: to help mental health professionals identify patients who are most likely to have bipolar disorder. This includes patients who are already diagnosed with another mood disorder or who show signs of one or more mood disorders. 

This screening tool is also frequently utilized due to its simplicity. The MDQ has five main questions. The first question has 13 individual parts, which makes for a total of 17 questions. Completing the questionnaire usually takes just a few minutes.

Once completed, an MDQ can correctly identify as many as seven of 10 patients with bipolar disorders. It can also accurately screen out nine of 10 patients without bipolar disorders. 

History of the MDQ

When it was originally created, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire was first tested with adults. However, it has now also been studied in adolescents ages 11 and older. In 2006, a parent-report version of the MDQ was created to extend the assessment of potential bipolar disorder symptoms to the home. 

Today, MDQs are some of the most widely used screening tools for bipolar disorder.

How the MDQ Questionnaire Works

Patients begin the MDQ by reading the instructions, which direct them to check the answer (either “yes” or “no”) that best applies to them for each question. 

The first question is broken into 13 parts and focuses on specific symptoms, like irritability, changes in sleep, and excessive energy. 

The remaining items on the questionnaire ask the respondent to consider how frequent or disruptive these symptoms are. Respondents can also report whether they have a family or personal history of bipolar disorder diagnoses. 

What’s more, this screening instrument seems to be reliable regardless of the mood state a patient is in at the time of assessment. Research demonstrates that MDQ accuracy is consistent between depressive, manic, and hypomanic states.

The Results: Key Insights for Bipolar Disorder

The MDQ has been found to be one of the best self-report tools for identifying hypomania and mania in adults. Meanwhile, the parent-report version of the MDQ has likewise been named as one of the best options available for detecting symptoms or areas of need in children. 

One 2015 study aiming to review the diagnostic accuracy of the MDQ among patients with mood disorders found that the screening continues to demonstrate good sensitivity and internal consistency. 

When a patient screens positive on an MDQ, the next step is a full clinical evaluation for bipolar disorder conducted by a qualified mental health professional. MDQ responses also serve as a great jumping-off point for sparking discussions and asking guiding questions about a patient’s experiences.

How to Administer the Mood Disorder Questionnaire with Linear Health

As a behavioral healthcare professional, you can leverage technology from Linear Health to quickly and easily administer clinical assessments like the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. 

Using digital assessments not only helps you save energy but also enables you to expand your care to new patients in new locations. Additionally, Linear Health’s patient communication platform delivers powerful automation capabilities to save clinicians and staff crucial time and resources. 

Distribute industry-standard assessments while simultaneously elevating the quality of care you can offer patients and growing your revenue with Linear Health. Request a demo today to learn more!