Updated
Original VAYEMA symptom and impact self-check – not a validated scale
Bipolar depression
Answer the symptom statements below to see which experiences and areas of daily life you report as most affected. These are original VAYEMA questions, not a validated diagnostic scale. No clinical severity or probability score is calculated.
Answers are processed only in this page by this assessment. They are not submitted, monitored or automatically saved. No name, email or account is required. Use a private device and clear your answers when finished.
For adults aged 18 and over. This self-check cannot diagnose or rule out a condition. Concerns about a child require an age-appropriate professional assessment.
Thinking about the past four weeks, how well does each statement describe your experience?
Additional context – not included in any questionnaire score
These are original VAYEMA questions, not a diagnostic instrument or a validated severity scale. They summarise the experiences you select and do not predict a diagnosis or future harm. Background condition information; this source does not endorse this self-check.
Why the assessment needs more than the current depression
Depressive symptoms can look similar across different conditions. The history of mania or hypomania is important in understanding whether depression occurs within bipolar disorder. A clinician asks about periods of increased activity, changes in sleep need, judgement and earlier treatment, even when the current concern is entirely low mood. These questions help guide care rather than distract from the reason you sought help. [1]
You do not need to know which diagnosis applies before the appointment. Explain what is happening now and what led you to wonder about bipolar depression. The professional should consider the evidence, alternative explanations and any uncertainty. A useful assessment can address present distress while the longer history is being clarified, rather than require you to solve that question alone.
Describe the current depressive symptoms and their impact
Useful information includes mood, enjoyment, energy, sleep, appetite, concentration and the ability to manage ordinary tasks. Mention hopelessness, thoughts of death or self-harm directly to the clinician rather than assume a questionnaire total communicates them. The level of visible functioning does not always reflect the internal burden. Someone may still meet obligations while struggling significantly. [1]
A few concrete examples can help: not answering friends, finding meals difficult to organise or needing much more effort for a familiar task. Include what remains manageable and what support is available. The aim is an accurate picture, not a performance of being unwell enough. A clinician should listen to the changes from your usual life rather than judge the situation from appearance alone.
Bring earlier high-mood periods into the history
A person may remember an energetic spell as recovery, productivity or an enjoyable time rather than something to mention during depression. Describe it anyway, including sleep need, activity, speech, duration and consequences. A professional can consider whether it was ordinary wellbeing, hypomania, mania or another pattern. A positive memory does not settle the clinical interpretation. [1]
Earlier reports or agreed observations from someone close may add context. The bipolar I and bipolar II assessment guides explain the lifetime history in more detail. There is no need to complete every related worksheet. One clear account with uncertainties identified can be a more useful starting point than several overlapping test results.
Mixed symptoms and changes in sleep need careful attention
Low mood can occur with agitation, racing thoughts, increased activity or a reduced need for sleep. A clinician needs to understand that combination rather than assume that more energy means uncomplicated recovery. Mixed symptoms may affect both the treatment discussion and urgency. Describe the speed of change and what is happening to judgement or impulsivity as well as mood. [1,2]
The mixed-mood guide provides background without diagnosing your state. Immediate danger or inability to remain safe should go to urgent services, not wait for a routine assessment. A low or improving depression score cannot independently establish safety when activation or other concerning symptoms are present.
Review treatment responses, not only treatment names
Bring a list of medicines and therapies tried, what helped, what caused problems and why treatment changed or ended. If an antidepressant was followed by unusual activation, describe the timing and symptoms. That history can matter, but it does not prove the diagnosis on its own. The clinician should consider the full sequence and other possible influences. [1]
Do not stop or alter a prescription to make the assessment easier to interpret. If you have already changed something, explain it honestly. Treatment history should not be used to blame you for a limited response. It can help distinguish an unsuitable approach, adverse effects, access barriers or an incomplete earlier assessment, and inform a more appropriate next step.
Physical health and substance use belong in the same conversation
Pain, sleep problems, medical illness, medicines and substances can contribute to fatigue, concentration changes or mood symptoms. A clinician may recommend examination or investigations for a specific question. No blood test or brain scan independently identifies bipolar depression. The aim is to bring relevant information together rather than assume that a psychiatric diagnosis explains every new physical symptom. [1,2]
Mention prescribed and non-prescribed products, alcohol and other substances without trying to guess which detail is important. If several professionals are involved, identify them and discuss appropriate information sharing. A coordinated assessment can reduce conflicting advice. It should not require you to choose between acknowledging physical-health concerns and receiving support for depressive symptoms.
What a depression questionnaire can and cannot show
A measure such as the PHQ-9 can describe selected depressive symptoms over a recent period. It does not assess the full history of mania or hypomania, identify every alternative cause or determine a safe care setting. The PHQ-9 page explains that tool separately. Individual responses and the wider conversation remain important alongside a total.
The prompts here are not a scored instrument or a replacement version of the PHQ-9. They organise a broader clinical history. Repeated testing should not be used to decide which medication to take or whether an urgent concern can wait. You can ask for assessment because the pattern is affecting life, without first obtaining a score that appears sufficiently high or consistent.
Support participation and privacy during the appointment
Depression can make memory, concentration and decision-making difficult. A short list of questions, time to pause or a written explanation may help. Ask about language or accessibility arrangements where needed. A trusted person can accompany you if appropriate, but you can also request private time. The assessment should be understandable rather than depend on your ability to recall every detail quickly.
Clarify what information may be shared with relatives and existing professionals. Their observations can help without replacing your account or automatically granting access to all clinical material. Family support can address their own concerns. The purpose is a clearer, more workable care discussion, not transfer of your decisions to someone else simply because you are depressed.
What the assessment should recommend
You should understand the working diagnosis, current priorities, any uncertainty and the proposed next step. The plan may involve medication review, psychological treatment, specialist input or another care setting. Ask what each part is intended to address, who provides it and when it will be reviewed. A diagnosis alone is not a complete plan or an automatic commitment to a programme.
The bipolar depression treatment guide explains the main options and monitoring questions. Agreed care coordination can support practical communication when several professionals are involved, while clinical responsibility remains explicit. You should not be left to reconcile competing prescriptions or decide treatment intensity from a self-test result.
Know when the situation needs a faster response
Suicidal intent, psychotic symptoms, inability to meet basic needs, escalating mixed symptoms or inability to stay safe requires prompt professional attention. Immediate danger or a medical emergency needs local emergency services. Do not wait for a completed history, another questionnaire or a routine private appointment. The current situation can be assessed even when details of earlier episodes are incomplete. [2,3]
The notes on this page are not transmitted, monitored or added to a client record. A deliberate download stays under your control. For non-emergency care, a VAYEMA inquiry can discuss suitable expertise and arrangements. It is not a crisis channel. Preparation is optional and should make a conversation easier, never postpone necessary help.
Frequently asked questions about bipolar depression assessment
Can a depression test show that my depression is bipolar?
Not by itself. It does not establish the necessary history of mania or hypomania or rule out other explanations. A clinician needs to review episodes, treatment responses and the wider context. The worksheet here is unscored and helps organise that information rather than assign a bipolar diagnosis.
What if I cannot remember a clear high-mood episode?
Explain the uncertainty and any periods that seemed unusual. Earlier records or agreed observations from someone close may help. Do not invent details or reinterpret every positive period as illness. A specialist can assess what is known and what further information is useful while addressing your current depressive symptoms.
Can low mood and increased energy happen together?
They can, and the combination deserves clinical attention. Agitation, reduced sleep need, racing thoughts or impulsivity should be discussed alongside depression rather than assumed to be recovery. Immediate safety concerns require urgent help. A single questionnaire total cannot determine the meaning or safety of a mixed presentation.
Should I bring results from previous questionnaires?
You may bring them if useful, but they are not required. Dates, the context in which they were completed and the experiences behind the answers matter. Scores should be treated as one source of information, not proof of the diagnosis or a reason to choose a particular medicine or programme.
Will the assessment automatically recommend residential care?
No. The setting depends on current symptoms, safety, support and what care is needed. Some people can use outpatient treatment; others need urgent specialist or hospital services. A diagnosis or score alone does not determine the setting. The clinician should explain the recommendation and appropriate alternatives.
Can I seek help without completing the notes?
Yes. A spoken account and your main questions are a valid starting point. The understanding guide is also optional background. Significant distress or urgent concerns should not wait while you try to prepare perfectly. The tool is there to support access to care, not set an entry requirement.
Resources and references
[1] NIMH: bipolar depression and diagnosis across the mood history