Take This Manic Depression Quiz If You Suspect That You May Have Manic Depression

Although bipolar disorder is a medical condition, diagnosing the disorder is not as easy as looking at the results of a blood test or CAT scan. Your doctor or psychiatrist is likely to ask you a series of questions about your mood and behavior. Here is a manic depression test that you can take yourself if you suspect that you may have bipolar disorder. This is in no way to replace seeking medical attention. This test will not give you a definitive answer of whether or not you have bipolar disorder. If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of a mood disorder, it is important for you to go to the doctor or a psychiatrist. This is especially important considering that bipolar disorder tends to worsen if left untreated.

This quiz is quite simple. First, read the following sentences:

• Some individuals noticed that their mood and/or energy levels shift drastically from time to time. ______


• These individuals notice that, at times, their moody and/or energy level is very low , and at other times, and very high.______


• During their " low" phases, these individuals often feel a lack of energy, a need to stay in bed or get extra sleep, and little or no motivation to do things they need to do.______


• They often put on weight during these periods.______


• During their low phases, these individuals often feel "blue," sad all the time, or depressed.______


• Sometimes, during the low phases, they feel helpless or even suicidal. _____


• Their ability to function at work or socially is impaired. ______


• Typically, the low phases last for a few weeks, but sometimes they last only a few days. ______


• Individuals with this type of pattern may experience a period of "normal" mood in between mood swings, during which their mood and energy level feels "right" and their ability to function is not disturbed .______
• They may then noticed they marked shift or "switch" in the way they feel. ______


• Their energy increases above what is normal for them, and they often get many things done they would not ordinarily be able to do. ______


• Sometimes during those "high" periods, these individuals feel as if they had too much energy or feel "hyper." ______


• Some individuals, during these high periods, may feel irritable, "on edge," or aggressive. ______


• Some individuals, during the high periods, take on too many activities at once. ______


• During the high periods, some individuals may spend money in ways that cause them trouble.______


• They may be more talkative, outgoing or sexual during these periods. ______


• Sometimes, their behavior during the high periods seems strange or annoying to others. ______


• Sometimes, these individuals get into difficulty with co-workers or police during these high periods. ______

Sometimes, they increase their alcohol or nonprescription drug use during the high periods. ______

How well do these sentences describe you?
They fit me very well, almost perfectly
They fit me fairly well
They fit me to some degree, but not in most respects
They don’t really describe me at all

Now, go back through the sentences and keep track of how many sentences accurately describe you. You may want to print this page and put checkmarks in the spaces after each sentence that accurately describes you.

To score your test, find the answer you gave to the question of how well the sentences describe you after you read the sentences the first time.

they fits me very well, or almost perfectly (6)
they fits me fairly well (4)
they fits me to some degree, but not in most respects (2)
they doesn't really describe me at all (0)

Add the number following your answer above to the number of sentences that you felt accurately described you. This should give you a total between 0 and 25. Compare your total score to the following chart:

19 or higher = bipolar spectrum disorder highly likely

11-18 = moderate probability of bipolar spectrum disorder

6-10 = low probability of bipolar spectrum disorder

<6 = bipolar spectrum disorder very unlikely

These results refer to bipolar disorder as bipolar spectrum disorder. This is to emphasize that bipolar disorder affects individuals differently and can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms. Remember that manic depression tests like this one are not a definitive diagnostic tests. If you have any concerns about feeling symptoms of manic depression, seek medical attention.

Next article: Bipolar I Disorder - The Most Severe Type