Bipolar Online TestStop wondering about your diagnosis. These bipolar disorder tests are the same as those used by professionals. They won't tell you everything, but they do give you a place to start.
There there is not (yet) a simple lab test such as a blood test or brain scan. BUT - reliable and professional bipolar disorder tests in the form of questionnaires have been developed by leading clinicians. Part of being diagnosed for bipolar is to take this sort of bipolar quiz, whether online or at a psychiatrist's office.
1. The Black Dog Institute Bipolar Online Test 2. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire 3. The Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale. Remember though, according to the experts: "Accurately diagnosing Bipolar Disorder is often not a straightforward matter. Many people go 10 years or more before their illness is accurately diagnosed as Bipolar Disorder." (Black Dog Institute)
Also, please remember - answering any bipolar quiz is not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a licensed professional. Our recommended best free bipolar testI like the Black Dog Institute's Self Test because it starts with the 3 critical threshhold questions for bipolar:1. Have you had any significant depression? 2. Do you experience 'ups' as well as 'downs'? 3. Are your ups 'wired' or 'hyper' - not just happy? If you answered "YES" to these 3 questions, click the link to take the complete test: Free bipolar online test from the Black Dog Institute. If you did NOT answer "Yes" to all 3 questions, then you may have another condition such as depression or ADHD. For comparing bipolar and depression, check out: Is it Depression or Bipolar? There is also fascinating information on the bipolar and ADHD similarities and differences: Bipolar vs ADHD. Another popular bipolar online testAnother well accepted bipolar disorder test is the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ).The MDQ was developed by Dr Robert M. A. Hirschfeld to help doctors with quick and easy identification. The MDQ was first published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Please note that this bipolar quiz is designed for screening purposes only - it is not to be used for a definitive diagnosis! A free version of the MDQ as a bipolar online test is available here from the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance):
MDQ - Bipolar Test.
The MDQ is useful because it is brief, is based firmly on the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV, and it can be completed and scored by patients independently. HOWEVER, USE OF THE MDQ OR ANY OTHER BIPOLAR TEST ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH!! PLEASE see a skilled and licensed psychiatrist with experience in mood disorders to obtain a diagnosis!! Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale
This bipolar disorder test, known as the BSDS, was developed by Boston psychiatrist Dr Ron Pies and has been evaluated by Dr S. Nassir Ghaemi, Director of the Bipolar Disorder Research Program at Emory University.
It is strongly endorsed by Dr Jim Phelps in his book "Why am I still depressed? Recognising and Managing the Ups and Downs of Bipolar II and Soft Bipolar Disorder", (McGraw-Hill 2006). The BSDS is a popular bipolar quiz amongst those, like Dr Phelps and Dr Ghaemi, who believe in the idea of a Mood Spectrum or Bipolar Spectrum. This represents a growing trend to reject the traditional categories such as Bipolar I and Bipolar Type II in favor of a sliding scale approach. This is very helpful in diagnosing people who do not display all the classic symptoms of manic depression. The Bipolar Spectrum is a very important concept because the majority of bipolar people are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed - often for many years. This is extremely sad and dangerous. Failure to diagnose correctly does not just mean the tragic consequences of missing out on treatment - frequently it leads to people receiving drugs that actually trigger mania and makes their disorder worse. It seems likely that the BSDS will be increasingly accepted. In the classic textbook "Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression" by Drs F.K. Goodwin & Kay Redfield Jamison (2nd ed, Oxford University Press, 2007), the BSDS is discussed and described as "promising". (However, note that further validation and replication of the BSDS is still advised.) This new and increasingly popular bipolar disorder test can be taken here, free and online: Take the BSDS online and score it for free. Bipolar disorder in kidsIf you are concerned about a child, there is also a bipolar online test for kids. Check out our page, Bipolar Disorder in Kids.Still wondering?You are not alone! See Bipolar Disorder Statistics, and check out the figures to see just how common this condition is. You will see stats on how difficult it can be to get a reliable bipolar disorder test and an accurate diagnosis.(But don't worry - it is NOT all bad news!) Congratulations!"Congratulations"? Maybe you are thinking that is a weird thing to say. What I mean is I remember the days before my diagnosis, and the impact of learning I had manic deressive illness very well. Taking a bipolar online test is a very brave thing to do so no matter how you score, I congratulate your courage. To any fellow bipolar person, I say "Congratulations on getting this far!"Here are some great resources I want you to have with my compliments - no need to sign up for anything or spend a dime. Just click to download and they will help you off to a good understanding of bipolar disorder management:
The Bipolar Toolkit: Taking Charge of Your Own Recovery
Return to Bipolar Test Return from Bipolar Online Test to Bipolar Lives home
|
