Is there a test for bipolar
FREE Bipolar Disorder Test & Screening
Bipolar Disorder
Do I have bipolar? Take this bipolar disorder quiz to see if you may benefit from further diagnosis and treatment from a mental health professional.
Medical ReviewerRandy Bressler, PsyD
Who Is This Bipolar Disorder Quiz For?
The questions below relate to life experiences that are common among people who have bipolar disorder. Please read each question carefully, and indicate how often you have experienced the same or similar challenges in the past few weeks.
How Accurate Is It?
This quiz is NOT a diagnostic tool. Mental health disorders can only be diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional or doctor.
Psycom believes assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment. All too often people stop short of seeking help out of fear their concerns aren't legitimate or severe enough to warrant professional intervention.
What's the Screening Test for Bipolar Disorder Like?
Talking with a doctor or mental health professional is the first step in identifying bipolar disorder. Specific criteria for diagnosis are laid out in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
In a screening for bipolar disorder, you'll be asked several questions about your symptoms and how long they have occurred.
What Other Tests Will You Need to Take?
A doctor may perform a physical evaluation to rule out any other conditions that may be causing symptoms.
What are Potential Results of Screening for Bipolar?
An estimated 2.8% of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. If left undiagnosed or untreated, the condition usually worsens, causing more problems with mood, energy and clear thinking.
If a diagnosis comes back as negative for bipolar, but you still experience symptoms, a health care professional may screen you for a similar condition such as schizophrenia or depression.
Getting a professional screening can start you on the path toward treatment, which can help improve your quality of life.
What are the Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder?
Typically, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is recommended to treat bipolar disorder.
Psychotherapy
Several types of therapy may be helpful in treating bipolar issues:
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT). IPSRT focuses on stabilizing daily rhythms, since following a consistent routine in sleeping, eating, and exercising may help you to manage your moods.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). By identifying unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replacing them with healthy, positive ones, CBT can help identify what triggers your bipolar episodes. You also learn effective strategies to manage stress and to cope with upsetting situations.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Including both individual and group therapy, DBT teaches mindfulness and acceptance skills such as “the ability to experience moment-to-moment thoughts, emotions and their accompanying physical sensations from an observer’s stance, without negative judgment.
”Psychoeducation. Learning about bipolar disorder can help you and your loved ones understand the condition. Knowing what’s going on can help you get the best support, identify issues, make a plan to prevent relapse, and stick with treatment.
Family-focused therapy. Family support and communication can help you stick with your treatment plan and help you and your loved ones recognize and manage warning signs of mood swings.
Medications
Many medications can effectively treat bipolar disorder:
Mood stabilizers. Used to control manic or hypomanic episodes, these include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others), and lamotrigine (Lamictal)).
Antipsychotics. Adding an antipsychotic may help relieve depressive or manic symptoms that persist despite treatment with other drugs. Taking these alone or with a mood stabilizer may help.
Such drugs include: olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel), aripiprazole (Abilify), ziprasidone (Geodon), lurasidone (Latuda) or asenapine (Saphris).Antidepressants. Employed to manage depression, antidepressants are usually prescribed with a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic, since an antidepressant alone can sometimes trigger a manic episode.
Antidepressant-antipsychotic. The medication Symbyax combines the antidepressant fluoxetine and the antipsychotic olanzapine. It works as a depression treatment and a mood stabilizer.
Anti-anxiety medications. Benzodiazepines may help with anxiety and improve sleep but are usually used on a short-term.
Your privacy is important to us. All results are completely anonymous. This quiz is not a substitute for a proper assessment from a health care professional.
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This test is based on the bipolar screening questionnaire created by Dr.
Ivan Goldberg. If you think you may be suffering from Bipolar Disorder or any other mental health condition, PsyCom strongly recommends that you seek help from a doctor in order to receive a proper diagnosis and support.
Bipolar Disorder FAQs
How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?
Bipolar disorder is diagnosed through a clinical interview with a licensed mental health professional, explains Simon A. Rego, PsyD, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
“Sometimes, the mental health professional will also ask the person to complete some assessment measures to aid in the diagnosis,” Rego says. “They may also ask to speak with a family member or partner, or other significant person in the person’s life, in order to get additional information about the impact the disorder has had on the person and their relationships.
”
Who can diagnose bipolar?
Bipolar disorder is most often diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker.
When is bipolar diagnosed?
Bipolar disorder is typically diagnosed during the late teen years or early adulthood, says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Occasionally, bipolar symptoms can appear in children.
To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the person must have experienced at least one depressive episode and one manic or hypomanic episode.
How long does it take to diagnose bipolar disorder?
Diagnosing the disorder can be done in one or two assessment sessions, says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
However, because bipolar disorder can be confused with other disorders such as depression and borderline personality disorder, getting the correct diagnosis can take some time.
For example, some research suggests that it takes an average of three and a half years to confirm a diagnosis of bipolar disorder after the first major mood episode, with other research suggesting it can take even longer, Rego says.
Can people tell they are bipolar?
People can often tell that something is wrong (often with their mood), but may not always be able to accurately label it as bipolar. For example, it is frequently easy for people to know when they are depressed, but sometimes symptoms of mania go unnoticed, or feel “good,” so they are not as easily seen as an issue, says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
Can bipolar disorder go away?
Bipolar disorder tends to be seen as an ongoing condition that waxes and wanes throughout one’s life, says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
“Fortunately, the symptoms can often be controlled and stabilized in most cases when proper treatment (ideally, the combination of medication and psychotherapy) is in place,” Rego says.
Can bipolar disorder get worse with age?
Bipolar disorder may get worse with age—but this is generally the case over time if it is left untreated, explains Simon A. Rego, PsyD, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. If treated with a combination of medication and therapy, people have a much better chance of managing their bipolar disorder, Rego says.
“Even then, it’s important for people to monitor their symptoms and seek help right away if they start to feel a change in their mood,” he says.
Can anxiety turn into bipolar?
There is no research evidence that suggests that anxiety can turn into bipolar disorder, says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, Chief Psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. People with bipolar disorder may experience feelings of anxiety, however, and may also confuse some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder for symptoms of anxiety.
In addition, some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder can also be associated with some of the anxiety disorders, Rego says. And some people may have both an anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder.
“So it's not always so easy to sort these things out,” Rego says. “It is much more important to seek professional help if you’re experiencing symptoms that are causing you distress or interference in your ability to function in life.
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Notes: This article was originally published March 29, 2016 and most recently updated November 11, 2021.
Bipolar Definition and DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorders are described by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a group of brain disorders that cause extreme fluctuation in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function.
Bipolar disorder is a category that includes three different condition--bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder.
Bipolar I disorder is a manic-depressive disorder that can exist both with and without psychotic episodes
Bipolar II disorder consists of depressive and manic episodes which alternate and are typically less severe and do not inhibit function
Cyclothymic disorder is a cyclic disorder that causes brief episodes of hypomania and depression
Bipolar and related disorders are given a chapter of their own in the DSM-5, between depressive disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
People who live with bipolar disorder experience periods of great excitement, overactivity, delusions, and euphoria (known as mania) and other periods of feeling sad and hopeless (known as depression). As such, the use of the word bipolar reflects this fluctuation between extreme highs and extreme lows. The diagnosis is frequently assigned to young patients presenting with a (first) major depressive episode. In these cases, diagnosis is exclusively based on psychiatric history provided by family and caregivers, not on the current psychopathological assessment by the psychiatrist.
Bipolar disorder occurs in up to 2.5% of the population, but the prevalence is much higher among first-degree relatives of individuals with bipolar or schizophrenia disorder. Individuals with bipolar disorder experience mood swings that are less severe in intensity. During what is known as a hypomanic episode, a person may experience elevated mood, increased self-esteem, and a decreased need for sleep.
Unlike a manic episode, these symptoms are not so severe as to impact daily functioning or cause psychotic symptoms.
What’s more, in some cases, a bipolar episode can include symptoms of both mania and depression; this is what’s known as an episode with mixed features. People experiencing an episode with mixed features may feel extreme sadness, guilt, and worthlessness, while at the same experiencing high energy, racing thoughts and speech, and overactivity. It is not uncommon during a mixed episode for a person to go from being exuberantly happy to be expressing suicidal thoughts in a matter of moments.
Bipolar Disorder DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria
Talking with a doctor or mental health professional is the first step in identifying bipolar disorder. Firstly, a doctor may perform a physical evaluation to rule out any other conditions that may be causing symptoms. If no other illnesses are present, the doctor will conduct a comprehensive mental health evaluation to assess the patient’s symptoms in accordance with the specific criteria from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have experienced at least one episode of mania or hypomania.
To be considered mania, the elevated, expansive, or irritable mood must last for at least one week and be present most of the day, nearly every day. To be considered hypomania, the mood must last at least four consecutive days and be present most of the day, almost every day.
During this period, three or more of the following symptoms must be present and represent a significant change from usual behavior:
Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep
Increased talkativeness
Racing thoughts
Distracted easily
Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
Engaging in activities that hold the potential for painful consequences, e.g., unrestrained buying sprees
The depressive side of bipolar disorder is characterized by a major depressive episode resulting in depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in life.
The DSM-5 states that a person must experience five or more of the following symptoms in two weeks to be diagnosed with a major depressive episode:
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
Loss of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities
Significant weight loss or decrease or increase in appetite
Engaging in purposeless movements, such as pacing the room
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt
Could My Mood Swings Be Bipolar Disorder?
We all have good and bad days –sometimes we feel on top of the world and other days, if we lose a job, go through a bad break-up, or fall out with a friend, we may be down in the dumps. But have you ever gone to bed one night feeling euphoric and woken up the next morning to find you feel empty and hopeless? Have you ever noticed your high-energy levels and racing thoughts suddenly turn to feelings of worthlessness and an inability to experience pleasure doing the same things you once enjoyed? If not, it’s unlikely that you have bipolar disorder.
Several important features of bipolar disorder allow us to distinguish between the severe mental condition and the occasional mood swing. The first feature is whether the fluctuations in mood are caused by a situation, person, or event, or appear without cause. While the moods of people with bipolar disorder can be affected by situational variables, people with bipolar disorder also frequently become manic or depressed for no apparent reason. In comparison, for most people, moodiness is tied to a situational event, particularly stressful period, or even hormonal changes in the body.
The duration and intensity of high and low moods are also factors to consider when making a judgment on whether you should be concerned about bipolar disorder. Individuals with bipolar experience an elevated or irritable mood for at least four consecutive days, while their depressive episodes last for at least two weeks at a time. If you’re struggling with moodiness, the intensity of the moods you are experiencing is likely significantly higher on the intensity scale than those of people with bipolar disorder.
If you’re unsure about whether your mood swings are normal or could be symptomatic of bipolar disorder. You may want to start a mood diary using an app such as "Daylio" to help keep track and monitor your mood fluctuations. Psychologists and therapists suggest that this can be a therapeutic activity. It can also help you to determine whether events or situations in your life cause your mood swings or if they appear seemingly without cause.
If you are concerned about bipolar disorder, we encourage you to make an appointment with your doctor or mental health professional to discuss the specific details of your fluctuating mood.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
Notes: This article was originally published October 13, 2019 and most recently updated September 29, 2020.
Test for Bipolar Affective Disorder
This test is recommended for people who experience systematic episodes of unexplained mood changes in their lives, both positive and negative.
Bipolar affective disorder (abbr. BAD , formerly manic-depressive psychosis or MDP) is a mental illness that manifests itself in the form of an alternation of mood background: from excellent / super-excellent (hypomania / mania phase) to reduced (depressive phase). The duration and frequency of phase alternation can vary from daily fluctuations to fluctuations throughout the year.
This test is a Russian version for detecting hypomanic conditions, the original name is HCL-32 (Hypomania Checklist) .
Typically used to detect BAD type II among patients with a current diagnosis of RDD (recurrent depressive disorder).
I remind you: this disease is unambiguously related to pathology, only a psychiatrist or psychotherapist can deal with diagnosis and treatment.
Instructions for filling
Try to recall a period of "elevated" state, which at the same time was not caused by drugs or alcohol and lasted more than two days (4-6 days in a row).
How did you feel then?
Please answer the questions about how you felt while on the rise no matter how you feel today.
Lifting I:
| 1. Sleep less. Yes |
| 2. More energetic and active. Yes |
| 3. More self-confident. Yes |
| 4. I get more pleasure from work. Yes |
| 5. Become more sociable (more often on the phone, more often in society). Yes |
| 6. I want to travel, and I do travel more. Yes |
| 7. My driving style is becoming more relaxed. Yes |
| 8. I spend more/too much money. Yes |
| 9. Yes |
| 10. I am very physically active (sports, etc.). Yes |
| 11. I make more plans and projects. Yes |
| 12. I have more creative ideas. Yes |
| 13. I am less shy and reserved. Yes |
| 14. I dress more flamboyantly and extravagantly/I wear more make-up. Yes |
| 15. I have an increasing need for communication or I really communicate with a large number of people. Yes |
| 16. I have an increased interest in sex and/or increased sexual desire. Yes |
| 17. I flirt more often and/or have more sexual activity. Yes |
| 18. Yes |
| 19. I think faster. Yes |
| 20. In conversations, I often joke and pun. Yes |
| 21. I am more easily distracted. Yes |
| 22. I find many new things to do. Yes |
| 23. My thoughts jump from one topic to another. Yes |
| 24. I do everything faster and easier. Yes |
| 25. I am more impatient and/or irritated more quickly. Yes |
| 26. I can tire and annoy others. Yes |
| 27. I get into conflict situations more often. Yes |
| 28. I am in high spirits and more optimistic. Yes |
| 29. Yes |
| 30. I smoke more. Yes |
| 31. I drink more alcohol. Yes |
| 32. I take more medication. Yes |
In everyday life, I take more risks (at work and / or other activities). 
I talk more. 
I drink more coffee. - An overview of major mood disorders (article).
- Bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale (test).
- Young Mania Scale (test).
Video
All about bipolar disorder, or what is really hidden behind the "bipolar"? Part 1
Advanced Bipolar Disorder. Part 2
Test for Bipolar II Disorder (HCL-32) • Psychologist Yaroslav Isaikin
Russian version for detecting hypomanic states. Typically used to detect type II bipolar disorder among patients with a current diagnosis of RDD (recurrent depressive disorder).
In case of exceeding 14 points, "a suspicion of bipolar affective disorder type II" is set, and a psychiatric consultation on this issue is recommended.
Bipolar affective disorder (obsolete MDP - manic-depressive psychosis) is an endogenous mental disorder. A feature of BAD is the sequential alternation of “phases”, some of which are manic, and some are depressive. Phases can have different severity, duration, alternation and frequency of occurrence, which determines the specific clinical picture. Since manic episodes are a much more specific manifestation of bipolar disorder than depressive episodes, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in the framework of the questionnaire is based on diagnosing a manic phase of a certain severity (the main part) and the presence of a sign of alternating "phases" of mood.
Other tests for bipolar disorder:
Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale for Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Mood Disorder Questionare for Bipolar I Type
Instructions:
Try to remember a period of "high" condition that was not caused by drugs or alcohol and LASTED MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS (4-6 consecutive days)
How did you feel then?
Please answer questions no matter how you feel right now.
1. I needed less sleep
Yes
No
2. I had more energy and was (was) more active
Yes
No
3. I was (was) more confident
Yes
No
4. Work gave me more pleasure
Yes
No
5. I became more sociable (phoned more often, corresponded with people more often, left the house more)
Yes
No
6. I wanted to travel and actually traveled much more
Yes
No
7. I took risks more often, for example, I began to drive a car at a higher speed
Yes
No
8. I spent more (too much) money
Yes
No
9. In everyday life, I often found myself in risky situations (both at work and in other circumstances)
Yes
No
10. I began to move more (go in for sports, walk, etc.)
Yes
No
11. I had many plans, projects
Yes
No
12.
I became more inventive, I had many ideas
Yes
No
13. I became less shy and "notorious"
Yes
No
14. I dressed (dressed) more brightly and extravagantly (I used brighter make-up)
Yes
No
15. I wanted to meet people more often, and I really communicated with many
Yes
No
16. I became more interested in sex than usual, sexual desire increased
Yes
No
17. I flirted more often and/or was more sexually active
Yes
No
18. I talked a lot
Yes
No
19. I was thinking faster than usual
Yes
No
20. I joked and punned a lot
Yes
No
21. I am easily distracted
Yes
No
22. I have a lot of new things to do
Yes
No
23. My thoughts jumped from one to another
Yes
No
24. I did everything much faster and easier than usual
Yes
No
25.
