Medications

Chris Aiken, M.D. Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

• Mood Test, Relative’s Version >

Disclaimer:
This site is for information only and is not intended as a substitution for psychiatric treatment.

Mood tests for close family or friends to rate

(click here for a printer-friendly, MS-Word version)

Please complete the following questions, as best you can, based on how they describe your friend or relative. If you are unable to answer a question, you may leave it blank.

Your Name:	Relationship:
Friend’s Name:	Date:
1) Has there ever been a period of time when you noticed they were not their usual self and...
...they seemed to feel so good or so hyper that you thought they weren’t their normal self, or they were so hyper they got into trouble?		Yes	No
...they were so irritable that they shouted at people or started fights or arguments?		Yes	No
...they acted much more self-confident than usual?		Yes	No
...they got much less sleep than usual and seemed to not really miss it?		Yes	No
...they were much more talkative or spoke faster than usual?		Yes	No
...they had many ideas at once or their thoughts raced from topic to topic?		Yes	No
...they were so easily distracted by things around them that you had trouble following their train of thought?		Yes	No
...they seemed to have much more energy than usual?		Yes	No
...they were much more active or did many more things than usual?		Yes	No
...they were much more social or outgoing than usual; for example, telephoning friends in the middle of the night?		Yes	No
...they were much more interested in sex than usual?		Yes	No
...they did things that were unusual for them or that you thought were excessive, foolish, or risky?		Yes	No
...they spent money to the point that it got them or their family into trouble?		Yes	No

2) If you checked YES to more than one of the above, have several of these ever happened during the same period of time?		Yes	No

3) How much of a problem did any of these cause – like being unable to work; having family, money, or legal troubles; getting into arguments or fights? No Problem…..Minor Problem…..Moderate Problem…..Serious Problem


Adapted by Dr. Aiken, from: Hirschfeld RM, Williams JB, Spitzer RL, Calabrese JR, Flynn L, Keck PE Jr, Lewis L, McElroy SL, Post RM, Rapport DJ, Russell JM, Sachs GS, Zajecka J. American Journal of Psychiatry 2000 Nov;157(11):1873-5.

Your Name:	Relationship:
Friend’s Name:	Date:
Instructions: Please read through the entire passage below before filling in any blanks. Some individuals notice that their mood and/or energy levels shift drastically from time to time ___. These individuals notice that, at times, their mood and/or energy level is very low, and at other times, very high ___. During their ‘‘low’’ phases, these individuals often feel a lack of energy; a need to stay in bed or get extra sleep; and little or no motivation to do things they need to do ___. They often put on weight during these periods ___. During their low phases, these individuals often feel ‘‘blue’’, sad all the time, or depressed ___. Sometimes, during these low phases, they feel hopeless or even suicidal ___. Their ability to function at work or socially is impaired ___. Typically, these low phases last for a few weeks, but sometimes they last only a few days ___. Individuals with this type of pattern may experience a period of ‘‘normal’’ mood in between mood swings, during which their mood and energy level feels ‘‘right’’ and their ability to function is not disturbed ___. They may then notice a marked shift or ‘‘switch’’ in the way they feel ___. Their energy increases above what is normal for them, and they often get many things done they would not ordinarily be able to do ___. Sometimes, during these ‘‘high’’ periods, these individuals feel as if they have too much energy or feel ‘‘hyper’’ ___. Some individuals, during these high periods, may feel irritable, ‘‘on edge’’, or aggressive ___. Some individuals, during these high periods, take on too many activities at once ___. During these high periods, some individuals may spend money in ways that cause them trouble ___. They may be more talkative, outgoing, or sexual during these periods ___. Sometimes, their behavior during these high periods seems strange or annoying to others ___. Sometimes, these individuals get into difficulty with co-workers or the police, during these high periods ___. Sometimes, they increase their alcohol or non-prescription drug use during these high periods ___.

Now that you have read this passage, please check one of the following four boxes: ___ This story fits my friend or relative very well, or almost perfectly ___ This story fits my friend or relative fairly well ___ This story fits my friend or relative to some degree, but not in most respects ___ This story does not really describe my friend or relative at all Now please go back and put a check after each sentence that definitely describes your friend or relative (considering their life as a whole, including the recent past).


Adapted by Dr. Aiken from: Ghaemi, Miller, Berv, Klugman, Rosenquist, Pies. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2005 Feb;84(2-3):273-7. Reprinted with permission from Dr. Ghaemi.