A circuit arrangement for triggering and monitoring a load which is connected in the shunt arm of a bridge circuit, including a control circuit for triggering switch elements S1 to S4 of the bridge circuit and a self-diagnosis system for testing the load connections, wherein the self-diagnosis system consists of a self-diagnosis circuit including a storage element for storing electrical charges, said circuit being linked to a signal connection of the control circuit, which signal connection is switchable as input or output, and to a load connection, and a self-diagnosis program which is stored in a memory of the control circuit and switches the signal connection to output during a first phase of the test in order to charge the storage element and switches the signal connection to input during a second phase of the test in order to capture the charge status of the storage element.