Telehealth Visit Toolkit: Using the MDQ Mood Disorder Questionnaire Remotely

Telehealth teams lean on the MDQ to prep for video visits, yet remote workflows can fall apart when links break or patients cannot find the form. Use this lightweight toolkit to keep the process smooth from invite to charting.

Build a Repeatable Invite Template

When you schedule a virtual check in, send a single email that includes: a secure form link, a short explainer paragraph, and contact info if the patient needs tech help. Mention that the MDQ takes about five minutes so they know it will not derail their day.

Share Real Time Instructions

During the visit, screenshare the questionnaire if the patient struggled ahead of time. Walk through each section, describe the 13 yes or no prompts, and remind them to answer based on their most intense mood changes. When connectivity is shaky, switch to phone audio and keep the video camera off to preserve bandwidth while you verbally record their responses.

Document Clearly

Log the delivery method (portal, email, phone) and note who transcribed the answers. If the patient dictated responses, add a chart note that you read each item aloud and confirmed accuracy. This protects you during audits and reinforces consistency across staff.

Plan for Low Tech Situations

Some patients lack printers or stable Wi Fi. Offer to mail a paper MDQ with a prepaid return envelope or arrange a curbside pickup. For urgent cases, staff can fill out the form with the patient over the phone and upload the signed attestation to the EHR. Having that contingency plan keeps your screening rates high even when technology does not cooperate.

Trusted Bipolar & MDQ Resources

• Cleveland Clinic overview of the MDQ - Explains how clinicians score, interpret, and follow up on questionnaire results.
• NIMH guide to bipolar disorder - US research-backed summary of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
• American Psychiatric Association bipolar overview - Outlines DSM-5 criteria, specifiers, and care pathways from the APA.