Mood Thermometer (BSRS-5) Online Test
The Mood Thermometer (BSRS-5) is a simple self-assessment tool designed to quickly screen for psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, anger, and more. It is widely used in suicide prevention, community mental health screenings, and psychological research. Learn about its origins, applications, and how to take the test online.
What Is the Mood Thermometer?
Also known as the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5), the Mood Thermometer is a self-assessment tool for identifying mental health symptoms. Its purpose is to provide a quick evaluation of an individual's mental health needs to guide further support or services. Unlike more comprehensive screening tools, the Mood Thermometer is brief yet highly effective, making it ideal for use in large-scale community surveys. Studies have confirmed its strong reliability and validity.
Origins of the Mood Thermometer
The Mood Thermometer is derived from the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) developed by Derogatis. Psychiatrist Dr. Ming-Been Lee and colleagues at National Taiwan University Hospital refined the scale into the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-50), which was tested on 721 inpatients. The BSRS-50 was later simplified to include only five key items, resulting in the BSRS-5, commonly referred to as the Mood Thermometer.
Effectiveness of the Mood Thermometer
The five items on the Mood Thermometer measure the severity of common psychological issues, including anxiety, anger, depression, inferiority, and insomnia. Each question is closely related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and interpersonal problems. Research has shown that the Mood Thermometer has an internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) ranging from 0.77 to 0.90 and a test-retest reliability of 0.82, demonstrating its effectiveness as a screening tool.
Applications of the Mood Thermometer
In addition to personal self-assessments, the Mood Thermometer is widely used in various fields:
- Suicide Prevention: Mental health professionals use the Mood Thermometer as a suicide risk assessment tool to evaluate the severity of emotional distress and suicidal ideation across different populations and settings.
- Community Mental Health Screening: It is an effective tool for large-scale mental health surveys to identify potential psychological issues in communities.
- Healthcare Settings: The Mood Thermometer helps healthcare providers assess patients' mental health conditions, enabling targeted support and interventions.
- Research: It is extensively used in psychological studies, such as research on the epidemiological characteristics of suicide attempts.
How to Take the Mood Thermometer Online Test
- Click the "Start Test" link to begin the assessment.
- Read the instructions and questions carefully.
- Rate each question based on your experiences over the past week (including today). Scores range from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates "not at all" and 4 indicates "extremely severe."
- After answering all the questions, submit your responses to receive an automatic score calculation.
The Mood Thermometer provides a total score between 0 and 24, which corresponds to different levels of distress. Keep in mind that this tool is designed for self-assessment purposes only. The results are for reference and should not be considered a substitute for professional diagnosis.
This online test is available on the PsyCheck Testing website. Take the Mood Thermometer now and better understand your mental health.
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