What bipolar disorder can look like
Bipolar disorder involves periods of unusually high energy or mood, called mania or the milder hypomania, often alternating with depression. During a high, people may sleep little without feeling tired, talk fast, feel unusually confident, take risks, or spend more than they can afford.
Because the depressed periods are often what bring people to a doctor, bipolar disorder is frequently first mistaken for depression. Asking about the highs is how it gets picked up.
About this self-check
The questions are the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), a widely used screener for the high periods of bipolar disorder. It asks about any time in your life, not just recently.
Your answers stay in your browser. Saycalm doesn't see or store them, and only sends them anywhere if you ask us to email you your results.
The questions
Thirteen yes-or-no questions about any period in your life when you weren't your usual self, then two about whether those things happened together and how much of a problem they caused.
- …you felt so good or so hyper that other people thought you were not your normal self, or you were so hyper that you got into trouble?
- …you were so irritable that you shouted at people or started fights or arguments?
- …you felt much more self-confident than usual?
- …you got much less sleep than usual and found you didn't really miss it?
- …you were much more talkative or spoke much faster than usual?
- …thoughts raced through your head or you couldn't slow your mind down?
- …you were so easily distracted by things around you that you had trouble concentrating or staying on track?
- …you had much more energy than usual?
- …you were much more active or did many more things than usual?
- …you were much more social or outgoing than usual, for example, you telephoned friends in the middle of the night?
- …you were much more interested in sex than usual?
- …you did things that were unusual for you or that other people might have thought were excessive, foolish, or risky?
- …spending money got you or your family into trouble?
- If you answered yes to more than one of these, have several of them ever happened during the same period of time?
- How much of a problem did any of these cause you, like being unable to work; having family, money, or legal troubles; or getting into arguments or fights?
Common questions
I've been diagnosed with depression. Why does this matter?
If there's a bipolar pattern, treatment can differ: antidepressants on their own can sometimes trigger a high. Telling your clinician about any past periods of unusual energy or little sleep helps them choose the right treatment.
What's the difference between mania and hypomania?
Both are periods of unusually high or irritable mood and energy. Mania is more severe, often disrupting work or relationships and sometimes needing hospital care. Hypomania is milder and can even feel productive, which is why it's easy to miss.
How is bipolar disorder treated?
Usually with mood-stabilizing medication plus therapy, regular sleep and routines, and learning early warning signs. Most people with bipolar disorder lead full, stable lives with treatment.
Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Hirschfeld, R.M.A., Williams, J.B.W., Spitzer, R.L., et al. (2000). Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. American Journal of Psychiatry 157:1873–1875. Used for screening only; not a diagnosis.
