I think most of us here obviously get reasonable results from such tests, but we are mostly all already formally diagnosed. My fear with such tests is to do with other individuals' perspectives. Wouldn't some people with bipolar disorder minimize and others without it exaggerate?

Though likely only some, I do think there are people who label themselves "bipolar" without even having a formal diagnosis. In my view, tests like these don't help in preventing that, despite their disclaimers.

I do have a formal bipolar 1 diagnosis and do get a bipolar 1 result on these types of tests, but some questions I don't answer as "All of the time " or even "Quite a lot" because though I've had very severe and frequent symptoms, I haven't had episodes constantly throughout my life. I have had remissions between episodes, and sometimes even if I still had symptoms, they aren't always severe, or I have lacked insight into them. I agree that putting these tests in the present tense only is odd. Shouldn't they be "Have you ever had (or currently have)?"

Isn't one of the questions in the manic section a yes or no about if you've been hospitalized for mania? I assume if you answer yes, your "score" skyrockets.