Reliability of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire: comparison with the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV-TR...

The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a widely used self-report screening instrument for the detection of bipolar disorder in clinical populations. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the reliability of this instrument.

Screening results using the MDQ were compared with results obtained using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Research Version, Non-patient edition (SCID) in a community-based sample of 1066 women. Trained personnel, who were blind to the results of the MDQ screen, conducted clinical interviews.

Using the MDQ, 21 women screened positive for bipolar disorder, and using the SCID diagnoses, 24 women were confirmed with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Six women were detected on both instruments. Compared to the SCID, the sensitivity for the MDQ was 25%, specificity 99%, positive predictive value 28%, negative predictive value 98%, and a demonstrated kappa of 0.25. The MDQ failed to detect any of the 11 participants in the study with bipolar II disorder and missed seven of 13 participants with bipolar I disorder or bipolar not otherwise specified. Of the 21 women who screened positive using the MDQ, 19 had current or past psychopathologies other than bipolar disorder.

The MDQ has substantial limitations for detection of bipolar disorder, in particular bipolar II disorder, in non-clinical populations.