Mood Thermometer

Mood Thermometer (BSRS-5) 

Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) was developed by Dr. Ming-Been Lee [1] and his co-workers in 2003. It is a short and simple screening tool to identify psychiatric morbidity in both medical practices and the community. 

Instructions 

Please recall carefully, in the past week (including today) how disturbed or distressed you were by these questions. Then, circle the answer that best represents your feelings in the BSRS-5 self report below, from the range 0 to 4.

0: Not at all   1: Mild    2: Moderately   3: Intense   4: Extremely Intense

• Q1. Trouble sleeping. (For example: having a hard time to fall asleep, easily awaken, waking up too early, etc.)

• Q2. Feeling tense or keyed up. 

• Q3. Feeling easily annoyed or irritated.

• Q4. Feeling blue or gloomy.

• Q5. Feeling inferior to others.

•  *Having suicidal thoughts. 

[1] M. B. Lee, S. C. Liao, Y. J. Lee, C. H. Wu, M. C. Tsheng, S. F. Gau & C. L. Rau (2003). Development and verification of validity and reliability of a short screening instrument to identify psychiatric morbidity. J Formos. Med Assoc, Vol. 102, No.10

Total Scores and Recommendations 

• If your total score from Q1~Q5 is 

  • Lower than 5, congratulations! You are healthy. 

  • Within 6 to 9, you have slight mental stress. We recommend you seek emotional support and relieve stress by talking with your friends or families!

  • Within 10 to 14, you have moderate mental stress. We recommend you seek mental health support or psychiatric professional consultations and counselings.

  • Higher than 15, you are under extreme mental stress. We recommend you to seek psychiatric professional consultations and counselings and medical services. 

• *If your score to "having suicidal thoughts" is 

  • Higher than 2, we recommend you to seek psychiatric professional consultations and counselings and medical service. 

Taiwanese Society of Suicidology

National Suicide Prevention Center