Ethical and Legal Considerations for Offering the Mood Disorder Questionnaire Online

Publishing the MDQ online seems simple until you think about liability. People searching for mood disorder questionnaire online free may land on your site without ever talking to a clinician, so you need guardrails.

Informed Consent Comes First

Display a brief consent statement before the form begins. It should explain that the MDQ is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and that emergencies require immediate help. Require users to acknowledge the statement before they proceed.

Provide Emergency Resources

Add a persistent banner with crisis hotline numbers and instructions to dial 911 or local emergency services if they feel unsafe. Make sure the banner stays visible even when someone scrolls.

Clarify Data Handling

If the form collects personal information, outline how it will be stored, who can access it, and how long you retain it. For anonymous self screenings, avoid gathering identifiable data. Either way, encrypt submissions and monitor access logs.

Respect State Regulations

Telehealth laws vary widely. Some states consider online screenings part of care delivery, which may trigger licensure requirements. Post a disclaimer noting which states your organization can serve and provide links to national directories for visitors outside your footprint.

Hosting the MDQ responsibly protects both patients and your organization while still making a much needed resource accessible.

Trusted Bipolar & MDQ Resources

• WHO bipolar disorder fact sheet - Global public-health data on prevalence, disability impact, and treatment gaps.
• Cleveland Clinic overview of the MDQ - Explains how clinicians score, interpret, and follow up on questionnaire results.
• MDCalc Mood Disorder Questionnaire calculator - Interactive calculator that shows how score thresholds flag likely bipolar disorder.