Posted by Aunt Carrie on October 17, 2003, at 11:09:40
After being in intensive treatment for 12 years for depression and my depression not getting any better, I decided to go on the web and research the subject some more. I'm very glad I did. Because that's when I discovered this questionnaire. The site said, "If your depression is not responding to treatment, click here." So I did. And it was a questionnaire to determine if you have bipolar disorder. And at the time, I thought to myself, "oh there's no way I have bipolar!" Well, it ends up that I do have bipolar. So now I am on the right meds and I am doing much better. But I am getting a new therapist and a new psychiatrist. I'm not too happy that they didn't correctly diagnose me all those years. I know it is supposed to be difficult to diagnose, but 12 years is a long time. Anyway, I am including a copy of the questionnaire here. Maybe it will help someone else like it did me. The questionnaire was published by Eli Lilly. Some of my doctors say they are upset with Eli Lilly for pushing this questionnaire and other things too much. But I say the questionnaire was a lifesaver for me, and I plan to send Eli Lilly a thank you note for it. (And by the way, the new med I am taking, Depakote, for the bipolar, is NOT made by Eli Lilly).
Mood Disorder Questionnaire
The following questionnaire can be used as a starting point to help you recognize the signs/symptoms of bipolar disorder but is not meant to be a substitute for a full medical evaluation. Bipolar disorder is complex and an accurate, thorough diagnosis can only be made through a personal evaluation by your doctor. However, a positive screen here may suggest that you might benefit from seeking such an evaluation from your doctor. Regardless of the questionnaire results, if you or your family has concerns about your mental health, please contact your physician and/or other healthcare professional.
When completed, your responses may be printed off for further discussion with your doctor.
Instructions: Please answer each question as best you can.
1. Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self and ...
YES or NO
...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?
2. If you checked YES to more than one of the above, have several of these ever happened during the same period of time?
3. How much of a problem did any of these cause you - like being unable to work; having family, money or legal troubles; getting into arguments or fights? Please select one response only.
[ ] No Problem [ ] Minor Problem [ ] Moderate Problem [ ] Serious Problem
4. Have any of your blood relatives (children, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles) had manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder?5. Has a healthcare professional ever told you that you have manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder?
poster:Aunt Carrie
thread:270209
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031015/msgs/270209.html