Taking An Am I Crazy Quiz

If you’ve been doing online research because you’re concerned about your mental health, you may have stumbled on quizzes that claim to tell you if you’re “crazy” or “losing your mind.” Unfortunately, many of those have very little basis in actual psychological research. Mental health professionals don’t generally use this type of vague, stigmatizing language, and they wouldn’t usually recommend online quizzes in place of a professional diagnosis. 

However, there are some useful resources online that may help you get a better understanding of your mental health challenges. 

This article can direct you to some of those more reliable options and provide insight regarding where you can go next if you think you need research-based psychological assistance.

Why quizzes to see if you’re "crazy" can do more harm than good

Thanks to tools like Google and Wikipedia, many may have gotten used to the idea that we can find information about any topic with a few clicks. With this in mind, many may want to turn to the internet for information regarding sensitive medical conditions. Surveys published in BMC Psychiatry suggest that at least 70% of internet users look online for content related to mental health—with estimates projecting numbers that may be likely to grow as internet usage expands worldwide.

Unfortunately, the internet isn’t generally subject to the same rigorous, evidence-based standards as licensed mental health professionals. When you click on a random online quiz, there’s usually no guarantee that it’s based on controlled clinical research. The person creating it may be more interested in selling you something or showing you advertisements than in giving you reliable information.

Additionally, these researchers may not have a complete or up-to-date understanding of what they’re referencing when discussing mental health conditions. In many areas, licensed mental health practitioners are required to continue educating themselves throughout their careers. This can help to ensure that they’re aware of new developments and discoveries in clinical research, generally empowering them to give their patients care that’s up to current standards.

How to spot an unreliable mental health quiz

You may be wondering: Is there a way to figure out if an online test will tell you something useful about your mental health? Mental health is far more complicated than a quick questionnaire can capture, so it’s usually best to be cautious about taking any internet quiz results at face value—but the following red flags may be particularly concerning:

• The site uses slang terms for mental illnesses. As we mentioned above, trustworthy sources about mental health generally avoid calling people “crazy”. This term conveys very little clinical information, and can play into negative stereotypes about mental illness. The same goes for words like “nuts”, “psycho”, and “mentally challenged”.
• The site uses broad generalizations. If the quiz you’re looking at makes vague, sweeping claims (such as: “Bipolar people generally...” or “All people with eating disorders do...”—it may be based more on stereotypes than science.  
• The site has a lack of sources to back their claims. Sites that are careful about doing their research might also tend to be careful about how they cite it. If a mental health resource provides no links or references to psychological studies backing up its claims, you may want to take what it says with a grain of salt.
• The site offers a definitive diagnosis. Diagnosing psychiatric conditions often requires a detailed assessment of a patient’s physical health, life circumstances and behavior from a knowledgeable practitioner. You may choose to be skeptical of any website claiming that you have a particular mental health condition based on a simple or single questionnaire.

We do want to note that the absence of the warning signs listed above doesn’t necessarily mean that a particular website is legitimate. If something you’ve read online has made you suspect that you have a mental health condition, it’s generally best to follow up with a licensed professional.

How to find reliable mental health resources online

Despite everything we’ve said above, it can be possible to find helpful information about mental health on the internet. Many conscientious researchers, clinicians and professional associations have created useful resources to help educate the public about psychiatric practice and psychological research. 

One generally reliable way to locate reliable information is to look for publications by trusted organizations. The following groups may provide a wide variety of mental health-related information based on peer-reviewed research and widely accepted clinical standards:

• The American Psychiatric Association (APA). The American Psychiatric Organization is generally known as a professional organization for practicing clinical psychiatrists. This group publishes the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is regarded by most as the most widely used handbook for classifying and assessing mental health Conditions.
• Academic Sources. It would be impossible to list every academic organization here, but in general, accredited universities can be good sources of research-based tools for assessing your mental health.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Dedicated to improving the lives and communities of people with mental illness, this advocacy group can offer some helpful information about recognizing and seeking treatment for psychological conditions. 
• Mental Health America (MHA). This is another nonprofit organization that works toward many of the same goals as NAMI. MHA has a number of mental health assessment tools that can help you figure out if you’re experiencing symptoms that are known to be consistent with certain mental disorders.

What questionnaires do mental health professionals use?

You may be aware that some standardized questionnaires have been developed to help clinicians assess the mental health of their patients. Some of these tools are available to the public, though many might be copyrighted or require payment. 

You may find them interesting or helpful in assessing your own mental well-being, but it can be important to remember that they’re meant to be administered and interpreted by trained mental health caregivers. We don’t recommend using them for self-diagnosis.

Some commonly used psychological questionnaires include:

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

The original MMPI was generally believed to be an attempt to create a standardized tool that could provide a broad overview of a person’s personality and mental health. Though there is some controversy about its effectiveness, it’s still commonly used in situations such as job applications, court-ordered psychological evaluations and everyday clinical mental health care. The latest version of the MMPI, and related training materials, can be purchased online. 

Duttweiler Internal Control Index (ICI)

This scale was generally developed to attempt to measure the degree of the test-taker’s internal locus of control — also known as their tendency to believe that their success or failure was mostly the result of their own actions. The locus of control is a personality metric that may have important implications for how a person approaches their goals and responds to setbacks. The original paper describing the scale can be viewed online, though it may require purchase or institutional login.

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

As you may be able to guess from the name, this tool generally aims to evaluate a person for common symptoms of depression. High scores on this measure aren’t usually sufficient to diagnose a person with a depressive disorder, however, they may be an indicator that it’s worth talking with a therapist regarding one’s experience. It’s viewable for free here. 

Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)

This is a complement to the BDI designed to assess anxiety disorder symptoms (such as frequent panic attacks or consistent dread). Both of these tests are fairly quick, constituting just 21 questions each, and can be self-scored. If you’re interested in taking the BAI, you can find it here. 

Licensed therapists can help you evaluate your mental health

No matter how useful an online assessment may be, they are generally not a substitute for a conversation with an accredited mental health caregiver. If you have concerns about your psychological well-being, it’s can be best to seek evaluation and treatment from a professional.

Statistical analysis of follow-up studies suggests that those who receive psychotherapy have better mental health afterward than 75% of people who don’t.

How Can Online Therapy Support Those Living With Mental Health Conditions? 

Some clients may be more comfortable engaging in therapy over the internet. Remote therapy, also known as telemental health, is becoming more widely available to most. It can be more convenient than in-person therapy— especially for those who may experience difficulty leaving the home as a result of their symptomatic experience. Many people also feel more comfortable opening up to their therapists due to the increased sense of control and distance.

Is Online Therapy Effective? Current research suggests that online therapy works quite well. A recent reviewof the psychological literature published in Cureus found that internet-based therapy was “effective in the treatment and management” of a wide variety of psychological challenges, including depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.