Bipolar Disorder Self-assessment test (Clinician version)

Question 1:
Firstly‚ have you had episodes of clinical depression – involving a period of at least 2 weeks where you were significantly depressed and unable to work or only able to work with difficulty -and had at least 4 of the following:
•      Loss of interest and pleasure in most things
•      Appetite or weight change
•      Sleep disturbance
•      Physical slowing or agitation
•      Fatigue or low energy
•      Feeling hopeless and helpless
•      Poor concentration
•      Suicidal thoughts?
If YES‚ proceed.
Question 2:
Do you have times when your mood ‘cycles’‚ that is‚ do you experience ‘ups’ as well as depressive episodes?
If YES‚ proceed.
Question 3:
during the ‘ups’ do you feel more ‘wired’ and ‘hyper’ than you would experience during times of normal happiness?
If YES‚ proceed.
Please complete the checklist below‚ rating the extent to which each item applies to you during such ‘up’ times.
1.    Feel more confident and capable
2.    See things in a new and exciting light
3.    Feel very creative with lots of ideas and plans
4.    Become over-involved in new plans and projects
5.    Become totally confident that everything you do will succeed
6.    Feel that things are very vivid and crystal clear
7.    Spend‚ or wish to spend‚ significant amounts of money
8.    Find that your thoughts race
9.    Notice lots of coincidences occurring
10.Note that your senses are heightened and your emotions intensified
11.Work harder‚ being much more motivated
12.Feel one with the world and nature
13.Believe that things possess a ‘special meaning’
14.Say quite outrageous things
15.Feel ‘high as a kite’‚ elated‚ ecstatic and ‘the best ever’
16.Feel irritated
17.Feel quite carefree‚ not worried about anything
18.Have much increased interest in sex (whether thoughts and/or actions)
19.Feel very impatient with people
20.Laugh more and find lots of things humorous
21.Read special significance into things
22.Talk over people
23.Have quite mystical experiences
24.Do fairly outrageous things
25.Sleep less and not feel tired
26.Sing
27.Feel angry
 
Much more than usual = 2‚ Somewhat more than usual = 1‚ No more than usual = 0
 

Parker‚ Gordon.‚ Hadzi-Pavlovic‚ Dusan & Tully‚ Lucy. (2006).Distinguishing bipolar and unipolar disorders: An isomer model. Journal of Affective Disorders‚ 96‚ 67–73.

Parker‚ G.‚ Fletcher‚ K.‚ Barrett‚ M.‚ Manicavasagar‚ V.‚ (2006). The Black Dog Institute Depression Clinic: a subtyping model in practice. Aust. Psychiatry 14 (3)‚ 300–303

Parker‚ Gordon .‚ Fletcher‚ Kathryn .‚ Barrett‚ Melissa .‚ Synnott‚ Howe.‚ Breakspear‚ Michael.‚ Hyett‚ Matthew & Hadzi-Pavlovic‚ Dusan. (2008). Screening for bipolar disorder: The utility and comparative properties of the MSS and MDQ measures. Journal of Affective Disorders‚ 109; 83–89

Parker‚ G.‚ Blanch‚ B.‚ Fletcher‚ K.‚ Greenfield‚ L. (2011). Evaluating the utility of a bipolar self-test screening measure. Australas Psychiatry‚ 19(4):317-20.

Parker G‚ Fletcher K. In: Bipolar II disorder: modelling‚ measuring and managing. 2. Parker G‚ editor. Cambridge‚ UK; New York: Cambridge University Press; 2012. Is bipolar II disorder increasing in prevalence? pp. 62–69.

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