Bipolar Disorder Test: Are My Highs and Lows More Than Mood Swings?

Have you lived through spells when you barely slept, talked non-stop and felt capable of anything, followed by weeks when you could hardly get out of bed? Bipolar disorder is characterised by episodes of elation or irritability alternating with depressive episodes, and it often takes years to identify because people only seek help when they are at their lowest. This test helps you make sense of what you have experienced in five minutes, with no sign-up and without sending your answers to any server.

What is bipolar disorder? Type I, type II and cyclothymia

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterised by episodes of mania or hypomania (elation or irritability with a marked increase in energy and activity) that usually alternate with depressive episodes. Between episodes many people feel well for months or years, which helps the problem go unnoticed. It is estimated that around 1-2% of adults meet criteria for bipolar disorder over their lifetime, and somewhat more if the whole spectrum is included.

The DSM-5-TR distinguishes three main forms:

• Bipolar I disorder: at least one full manic episode, lasting a week or more (or less if hospitalisation is needed) and causing obvious impairment. Depressive episodes are very common, although they are not required for the diagnosis.
• Bipolar II disorder: at least one hypomanic episode (four days or more, without the severity of mania) and at least one major depressive episode, with no full manic episode ever. It is often diagnosed late because hypomanias are experienced as "good times".
• Cyclothymia: over at least two years, numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet full episode criteria but create constant instability.

Bipolar disorder has a strong biological basis: it is one of the psychiatric conditions with the highest heritability (around 60-85% according to twin studies), and having an affected first-degree relative clearly increases the risk. It is not a weakness of character or a consequence of "not being able to control yourself".

Symptoms of bipolar disorder: mania, hypomania and bipolar depression

Symptoms of mania and hypomania

A manic or hypomanic episode is a distinct period of abnormally elevated, expansive or irritable mood, with more energy than usual, present most of the day nearly every day. Alongside the mood change come at least three of these symptoms (four if the mood is only irritable):

• Decreased need for sleep: the person feels rested after three or four hours.
• Pressured speech: talking more, faster and being hard to interrupt.
• Racing thoughts or flight of ideas.
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity: a sense of having special abilities, ideas or a mission.
• Distractibility by any stimulus.
• Increased goal-directed activity (work, projects, socialising, sex) or agitation.
• Risky behaviour: excessive spending, reckless driving, unwise investments, promiscuity.

The difference between mania and hypomania is one of intensity and duration: mania lasts at least a week, causes severe impairment, may require admission and sometimes includes psychotic symptoms; hypomania lasts at least four days and is an obvious change to others but is not disabling.

Symptoms of bipolar depression

The depressive episodes of bipolar disorder resemble those of unipolar depression (sadness or emptiness, loss of interest, hopelessness, trouble concentrating, thoughts of death), but with some frequent nuances: marked slowing down, hypersomnia and increased appetite rather than insomnia and weight loss, a more abrupt onset and more repeated episodes. There are also mixed states, in which depressive and manic symptoms coexist (deep sadness with agitation and racing thoughts), which are particularly distressing and carry a higher risk.

How does this online bipolar disorder test work?

This questionnaire consists of 16 questions grouped into three areas: eight explore episodes of elation, energy and irritability (the symptoms of mania and hypomania), four explore depressive episodes and four assess whether those changes coincide in time, alternate, are noticed by others and cause problems. The structure follows the logic of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), the most widely used screening instrument in the world, and the DSM-5-TR criteria.

Unlike the anxiety or depression tests, which ask about the last few weeks, here you should think about your whole life: bipolar disorder is identified by episodes that may have happened years ago. For each question, indicate how often you have experienced what it describes, from "never" (0 points) to "very often" (4 points).

At the end you get a total score from 0 to 64 and a breakdown by area. The calculation is done entirely in your browser: we do not ask for your name or email and we do not store your answers. One important tip: spells of elation are usually remembered as "good times" and underestimated. If in doubt, think about what the people who know you well would say about those days.

How to interpret your bipolar disorder test score

Scores are grouped into four indicative levels:

• 0-16 · Low: few indicators; the ups and downs you describe fall within the expected range.
• 17-31 · Mild: some episodes or traits present; worth monitoring and ruling out other causes.
• 32-46 · Moderate: pattern consistent with the bipolar spectrum; a professional assessment is recommended.
• 47-64 · High: frequent, alternating episodes with real impact; assessment should be a priority.

Beyond the total, look at the breakdown. The most characteristic sign of bipolar disorder is a high score on the elation subscale together with a high score on alternation and impact: episodes of boundless energy that coincide with less sleep and impulsive decisions, and that have had consequences. A high score only on the depressive subscale points more towards depression, although it does not rule out type II, whose hypomanias go unnoticed.

Remember that a screening test does not diagnose. A high result means that what you describe resembles bipolar disorder closely enough to justify an assessment; a low result makes it less likely but does not exclude it, especially if someone close to you insists that your changes are striking. Only a professional can establish the diagnosis after a detailed clinical interview, which often includes information from relatives.

Bipolar disorder vs. depression, ADHD, borderline personality and normal mood swings

Many conditions produce ups and downs in mood, and telling them apart is the most delicate part of the assessment. If you are wondering how to know whether you have bipolar disorder, these are the most common confusions:

• Unipolar depression: the most frequent and the most important, because people with bipolar disorder usually seek help only during the low phases. Bipolarity should be suspected when depression starts very young, recurs many times, comes with hypersomnia and slowing down, there is a family history, or antidepressants trigger elation, insomnia or irritability.
• ADHD: shares restlessness, impulsivity, talkativeness and distractibility, but in ADHD these are stable traits since childhood, not episodes that start and end, and the decreased need for sleep and grandiosity do not appear. The two conditions can coexist.
• Borderline personality disorder: mood changes last hours, are highly reactive to conflict or a sense of abandonment, and come with chronic emptiness and unstable relationships. In bipolar disorder, episodes last days or weeks and alter sleep and energy.
• Normal mood swings: they are proportionate to what is happening, do not drastically alter sleep or judgement and do not cause serious consequences. Feeling elated after good news is not hypomania.
• Other causes: stimulants, alcohol or cannabis, some medications such as corticosteroids and thyroid problems can mimic manic or depressive episodes and must be ruled out.

Age of onset and late diagnosis of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder usually begins between late adolescence and early adulthood; most cases start between the ages of 15 and 30, and a first manic episode after 40 is unusual and calls for medical causes to be ruled out. The first episode is frequently a depression, and hypomanias may take years to appear or to be recognised. That is why the correct diagnosis comes late: studies place the average delay between symptom onset and diagnosis at around 6-10 years, and most people first receive other labels, mainly depression, anxiety or a personality disorder.

That delay has consequences: treatments that do not work or that make things worse (an antidepressant without a mood stabiliser can trigger hypomania or rapid cycling), job and financial losses, break-ups and a persistent feeling of "not understanding what is wrong with me". Detecting it earlier allows simpler treatment and a better prognosis.

In women, type II and rapid cycling are somewhat more common, and the postpartum period is a time of particular vulnerability for a first episode. In men, a manic onset is slightly more usual. Either way, if you have had repeated depressions since you were young and recognise spells of unusual energy, this test can help you ask the right question at your appointment.

What to do after the test: treatment of bipolar disorder

If your result is moderate or high, the next step is a psychiatric assessment, which can be complemented by an evaluation with a psychologist. In public health systems the entry point is usually your GP, who refers you to mental health services. The assessment includes a clinical interview covering your whole mood history, family history, substance use, scales such as the MDQ and, often, information from a relative or partner. Bring notes on your episodes, how long they lasted and what happened during them.

Treatment of bipolar disorder is long-term, combines several pieces and works:

• Mood stabilisers: lithium and some anticonvulsants or second-generation antipsychotics, prescribed and supervised by a psychiatrist, treat episodes and prevent relapses. Antidepressants, if used, are always combined with a stabiliser.
• Psychoeducation: understanding the disorder, identifying early warning signs of relapse and having an action plan has been shown to reduce relapses and admissions.
• Psychotherapy: cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy and family-focused therapy improve adherence, the management of depression and life at home.
• Regular sleep and routines: lack of sleep is the most powerful trigger of mania; keeping stable times for sleep, meals and activity is part of the treatment.
• Support network and habits: avoiding alcohol and drugs, exercising and having people around who know your warning signs make a real difference.

A psychologist specialised in mood disorders, such as the one we recommend at the end of the test, can accompany you through the diagnostic process and in psychotherapy, in coordination with psychiatry.

The scientific basis of this bipolar disorder test

The questions in this questionnaire were written from the DSM-5-TR criteria for manic, hypomanic and major depressive episodes and the World Health Organization's ICD-11 classification, following the structure of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) by Hirschfeld and colleagues, the most internationally validated screening instrument for the bipolar spectrum, and taking into account other recognised questionnaires such as the Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32). The items are original and do not reproduce any copyrighted scale. The cut-off points are indicative and were set to maximise sensitivity, that is, to avoid leaving out people who could benefit from an assessment. The content has been reviewed by the MyPsicoTest team in line with current clinical guidelines, such as those of NICE and the Spanish National Health System's clinical practice guideline on bipolar disorder, and is updated periodically.

The 16 questions in this test

Think about your whole life, not just the last few weeks, and indicate how often you have experienced what each question describes.

1. Have there been periods of several days when you felt so elated, "high" or irritable that you were not yourself, and other people told you that you seemed different?
2. Have there been periods of several days when you slept much less than usual (for example, three or four hours) and still felt rested and full of energy?
3. Have there been periods of several days when you talked much more and much faster than normal, to the point that others struggled to follow or interrupt you?
4. Have there been periods of several days when your thoughts raced, jumping from one idea to the next, and you could not slow them down?
5. Have there been periods of several days when you felt far more self-confident than usual, convinced that you could take on anything or that you had special ideas or abilities?
6. Have there been periods of several days when you had far more energy and activity than usual: starting several projects at once, unable to sit still or doing more than ever before?
7. Have there been periods of several days when you spent money excessively or did risky, impulsive things that were out of character (reckless driving, hasty decisions, business ventures or gambling)?
8. Have there been periods of several days when you were much more sociable, outgoing or interested in sex than usual, for example calling people at any hour or seeking encounters that later surprised you?
9. Have there been periods of at least two weeks when you felt sad, empty or down most of the day, nearly every day?
10. Have there been periods of at least two weeks when you lost interest or pleasure in almost everything, even the activities and people you normally enjoy?
11. Have there been periods of at least two weeks when you felt slowed down and drained of energy, slept far more than usual, or found that any simple task took enormous effort?
12. Have there been periods of at least two weeks when you felt worthless, guilty or hopeless, with the feeling that nothing would ever get better?
13. Have several of these changes (in mood, sleep, energy, the way you talk or act) happened at the same time, during the same period?
14. Does your mood alternate between spells of being "up" and spells of being down that last days or weeks and are not fully explained by what is going on around you?
15. Have people close to you (family, partner, friends, colleagues) told you that your changes in mood or energy are abrupt, striking or worrying?
16. Have these changes caused you real problems at work or in your studies, with money, with the law, with your family or partner, or led you to do things you later regretted?

Answer scale: Never · Rarely · Sometimes · Often · Very often

If your result worries you or you want a professional assessment, you can talk to Xènia Capel Salcedo, a licensed psychologist (COPC reg. 14982), who offers a free first consultation call and online therapy from anywhere.

Reviewed by the MyPsicoTest team · Updated: 27 October 2026