Evidence-based assessment/Measures/MDQ

*** This page is flagged for merging with the /Instruments/Mood_Disorders_Questionnaire page, and then deletion.

=Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)=

This page goes into detail about how to score and interpret the MDQ. It is a companion page to the general description on Wikipedia.

The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a brief screen to improve detection of bipolar disorders. It generally shows good sensitivity to bipolar I, but has a harder time detecting the other types of bipolar disorders. It is not designed to measure current symptom severity or treatment response. It is one of the most translated and studied screening tools for bipolar disorders. Its brevity and simple reading level add to its popularity, along with it being free, fast to take and score.

Versions

 * What are the versions of this test that exists, if any? For each section, there should be a description of the test.
 * If there are multiple versions, why was the most recent one created? (Usually DSM update or norm update, among other reasons)
 * What is its intended population, number of questions and acronyms?

Norms
The MDQ was originally developed and validated in a large sample in the United States. Later studies used large clinical samples, online surveys distributed by advocacy groups, and other convenience samples. There are no carefully designed and stratified samples intended to be representative of a general population. Thus the MDQ fits as having "adequate" normative data based on the large number of convenience samples. Several meta-analyses have summarized the performance of the MDQ scores across the range of published languages, clinical settings, and administration formats.

Reliability
Reliability refers to whether the scores are reproducible. Unless otherwise specified, the reliability scores and values come from studies done with a United States population sample. Validity describes the evidence that an assessment tool measures what it was supposed to measure. There are many different ways of checking validity. For screening measures such as the CAGE, diagnostic accuracy and discriminative validity are probably the most useful ways of looking at validity.

Validity
Validity describes the evidence that an assessment tool measures what it was supposed to measure. There are many different ways of checking validity. For screening measures, diagnostic accuracy and discriminative validity are probably the most useful ways of looking at validity. Unless otherwise specified, the validity scores and values come from studies done with a United States population sample. A rubric for describing validity of assessment scores in the context of EBA is here.

Development and history

 * Why was this instrument developed? Why was there a need to do so? What need did it meet?
 * What was the theoretical background behind this assessment? (e.g. addresses importance of 'negative cognitions', such as intrusions, inaccurate, sustained thoughts)
 * How was the scale developed? What was the theoretical background behind it?
 * How are these questions reflected in applications to theories, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?
 * If there were previous versions, when were they published?
 * Discuss the theoretical ideas behind the changes

Impact

 * What was the impact of this assessment? How did it affect assessment in psychiatry, psychology and health care professionals?
 * What can the assessment be used for in clinical settings? Can it be used to measure symptoms longitudinally? Developmentally?

Use in other populations

 * How widely has it been used? Has it been translated into different languages? Which languages?

Research

 * Any recent research done that is pertinent?

Limitations

 * If self report, what are usual limitations of self-report?
 * State the status of this assessment (is it copyrighted? If free, link to it).

Example page

 * General Behavior Inventory