Mood Disorder Questionnaire – MDQ
A self-report screening instrument designed to identify individuals likely to have a bipolar spectrum disorder.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Mood Disorder Questionnaire – MDQ was developed by Robert M. A. Hirschfeld, Janet B. W. Williams, Robert L. Spitzer, Joseph R. Calabrese, Laurie Flynn, Paul E. Keck, Lydia Lewis, Susan L. McElroy, Robert M. Post, Daniel J. Rapport, James M. Russell, Gary S. Sachs, John Zajecka (2000). It is designed to measure Bipolar Spectrum Disorder Screening. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 17 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Manic Symptoms, Co-occurrence, Severity, Family History, Prior Diagnosis.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Manic Symptoms | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 | 13 |
| Co-occurrence | 14 | 1 |
| Severity | 15 | 1 |
| Family History | 16 | 1 |
| Prior Diagnosis | 17 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: yes = Yes, no = No, no_problem = No Problem, minor_problem = Minor Problem, moderate_problem = Moderate Problem, serious_problem = Serious Problem.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 13. Interpretation guidelines:
- Negative Screen (Low likelihood of Bipolar Spectrum Disorder): 0 – 6
- Positive Screen (If co-occurrence is Yes and severity is Moderate or Serious): 7 – 13
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha of 0.79 – 0.90.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.