last updated 11/11/24
Use this guide if you printed MoodCheck or completed the version on this site.
High scores
If your total score from Parts A and B is greater than 16; or if you have lots of circles in shaded boxes on the second page, especially dark grey ones; or a close relative with repeated depressions, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, then:
- Antidepressants are more likely to make your mood worse than if you had a low score. Learn more about mood swings without mania.
- If you have depression plus anxiety, anger, agitation and/or attention problems, you could have a Mixed State depression. Antidepressants can cause and worsen Mixed States.
Medium scores
If your total score from Parts A and B is between 10 and 16, and you have some but not a lot of circles in shaded areas of Page 2 (especially few or no dark grey ones), then you may be in the middle of the Mood Spectrum. You might get conflicting diagnoses from different providers. Treatment recommendations may also vary. Should you avoid antidepressants, and use mood stabilizers with antidepressant effects instead? Learn more about the Mood Spectrum and mood swings without mania.
Low scores
If your total score from Parts A and B is less than 10, you have few circles in shaded boxes (none in dark grey ones), and no close relative with repeated depressions, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder…. then antidepressants probably have only their standard risks. Learn about their benefits and risks before you proceed.
In-between scores
As you’ll see, treatment options for High and Medium scores are very similar. If you are right in between, start by reading about Mood Swings without Mania.
What if you are right on the edge between Medium and Low? Here, treatment choices are tricky. Different providers will often have very different opinions about what you should consider. There is no right answer — except to learn a lot about the different options so you can fully participate in decision-making.
Links
References
Parts A and B of the MoodCheck questionnaire are the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale. The BSDS has several validation studies; here’s one. The family history in MoodCheck was used in another relevant validation study. The remaining MoodCheck questions are items from the Bipolarity Index, also validated. Key idea: 80 of the 100 points of the Bipolarity Index are given to MoodCheck Part C and D items: family history, age of onset, course of illness, and response to treatment.