Bipolar disorder testing typically involves a combination of methods, including clinical interviews, psychological assessments, and mood tracking. The following covers the types of bipolar depression assessment we provide, the tests for bipolar disorder we choose, and the advantages and drawbacks of this type of assessment.
We want to emphasize that while a bipolar depression assessment can be extremely helpful, it should be part of a larger evaluation that involves a clinical psychologist or other therapist. This illness significantly affects a person’s social life, self-esteem, and emotional state, and a therapist can be very helpful in determining whether the diagnosis exists and what the treatment plan should be. Testing is a great adjunct to that, helping refine the treatment plan, giving powerful and effective self-help strategies, and suggesting necessary accommodations and interventions for school and work.
Of course, you can contact us anytime or schedule a consultation to talk about bipolar disorder testing.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
This disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). These mood swings can affect a person’s energy levels, behavior, judgment, and ability to function in daily life.
There are several types, including:
1. Bipolar I Disorder: This type involves manic episodes that last at least seven days or are severe enough to require immediate medical care. Depressive episodes also occur, typically lasting at least two weeks.
2. Bipolar II Disorder: This type involves a pattern of depressive episodes alternating with hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than full-blown manic episodes.
3. Cyclothymic Disorder (Cyclothymia): This is a milder disorder characterized by mood fluctuations that are less severe than those in the previous two. Symptoms of hypomania and depression can last for at least two years (one year in children and adolescents).
4. Other Specified and Unspecified Related Disorders: These categories include symptoms that don’t fit the criteria for the above types but still cause significant distress or impairment.
The exact cause of this disorder is not fully understood, but it likely involves a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Treatment typically involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms and improve overall quality of life.
Bipolar Disorder Testing Steps
Here’s an overview of the steps we take in bipolar disorder testing:
Bipolar Disorder Testing Clinical Interview
We will start with a detailed interview to gather information about your symptoms, medical history, and family history of mental health conditions. We will ask about your mood swings, energy levels, sleep patterns, and other relevant symptoms. Our goal in this interview is to put together the best battery of testing to complete your bipolar depression assessment.
Our goal in a bipolar depression assessment is to use criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to determine if your symptoms match those of bipolar disorder. But we will go beyond that and give detailed suggestions to help you overcome challenges and reach your potential.
Mood Charts in Bipolar Disorder Testing
As part of your testing for bipolar disorder, we may ask you to keep a mood journal or use mood-tracking apps that can help monitor your symptoms over 
time. This can provide valuable information about the frequency and severity of mood swings, how to anticipate them, and how to proactively overcome the challenges they bring.
Psychological Tests for Bipolar Disorder
We will then administer standardized psychological tests to assess your mood, cognition, and overall psychological functioning. These tests for bipolar disorder can help clarify the diagnosis and rule out other possible explanations for your symptoms. We go over some of the specific tests for bipolar disorder we use in the next section.
Collateral Information in Testing for Bipolar Disorder
We may ask you to gather information from family members or close friends, which may also be useful in understanding your symptoms and their impact on your daily life. For example, we may give you a questionnaire that others can fill out.
It’s important to note that diagnosing bipolar disorder can be complex, and it may take time to reach a definitive diagnosis. Additionally, accurate diagnosis is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan, including medication, individual therapy, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these approaches.
Tests for Bipolar Disorder
There isn’t a single test that can definitively diagnose bipolar disorder. Instead, diagnosis typically involves a comprehensive evaluation that includes testing.
Here are some standardized assessments and tools commonly used in the diagnostic process. Here are a few:
- Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS): This scale assesses the severity of manic symptoms. It includes questions about mood, energy levels, sleep patterns, and other symptoms associated with mania.
- Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D): While primarily designed to assess depression, this scale may also be used to evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms.
- Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale (BSDS): This self-report questionnaire assesses symptoms related to the bipolar spectrum, including both manic and depressive symptoms.
Other Tests for Bipolar Disorder:
- Life Chart Methodology: Some clinicians use life charting or mood-tracking methods to help individuals track their mood symptoms over time. This can provide valuable information about the pattern and severity of mood episodes.
- Mood Disorder Questionnaires: Various questionnaires and screening tools are available to help assess symptoms. One commonly used questionnaire is the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), which asks about symptoms related to both manic and depressive episodes.
It’s important to note that these tests are not definitive diagnostic tools but aid in the diagnostic process.
Other Aspects of a Bipolar Depression Assessment
There are some other possible steps in bipolar depression assessment, including:
Differential Diagnosis in Testing for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar depression can sometimes be mistaken for unipolar depression. Assessing for symptoms such as a history of manic or hypomanic episodes, family history of bipolar disorder, and atypical features of depression (e.g., hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation) can help differentiate between the two.
Monitoring for Manic/Hypomanic Switch:
During the assessment, we will also monitor for any signs of manic or hypomanic symptoms emerging during or following a depressive episode, as this is a key feature of the disorder.
Summary and Our Work
We provide bipolar disorder testing virtually and in person, whether as a stand-alone service or in combination with other testing. The tests for bipolar disorder we choose will depend on your unique questions. Our report will describe the type of bipolar disorder you have (if you have one), with suggestions on overcoming or avoiding challenges, getting the support or accommodations you need, and reaching your potential.
We provide bipolar testing virtually and in person, and we can work with your employer or school to ensure you get the accommodations you need. Tests for bipolar disorder can be mixed with other tests if you are looking to answer other questions. For example, some people also want to know whether they have another challenge, such as ADHD, while others want a more general personality assessment.
Bipolar Disorder Testing Example
Psychological testing for bipolar disorder involves a comprehensive assessment, so we wanted to provide a fictitious example of what this testing might involve:
John is a 32-year-old who is experiencing periods of high energy, decreased need for sleep, and increased talkativeness, followed by periods of intense sadness, fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness. He worries about how these symptoms affect his parenting of two young children and his reliability and performance as an HR manager. He comes in for a bipolar depression assessment on the advice of his aunt, who had testing that she felt was very helpful.
Our clinical interview is designed to gather more detailed information about his symptoms, family history, and overall mental health so we can decide on the most effective tests for bipolar disorder that will give him ways to overcome challenges and barriers and design the best treatment plan. We want to know how often these mood changes occur, how long they last, and how they affect his ability to function at work, school, and social situations.
We then screen to see whether his symptoms positively indicate the diagnosis, which they do. This is the first step because our report is designed to point out solutions for reducing barriers and challenges associated with his unique symptom profile and help him design a perfect treatment plan.
We decide on a battery of tests, including:
- The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) which assesses the severity of depressive symptoms.
- Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) measures the severity of manic symptoms.
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) is a broader assessment tool that can identify various psychological conditions.
We also have him keep a mood diary to confirm patterns of mood swings over a month. With his permission, we interviewed his wife and a colleague friend to see how his symptoms appear to others. This can be particularly helpful in identifying mood swings that he may not recognize.
Finally, based on what we are beginning to see, we ask some specific questions, such as:
- Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self and you felt so good or hyper that other people thought you were not your normal self, or you were so hyper that you got into trouble?
- Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self, and you felt much more self-confident than usual?
- Do you sometimes feel down for seemingly no reason shortly after feeling positive and happy?
Based on the comprehensive assessment, our report describes his symptoms in detail, ways he can better manage them, how family can help, and specific methods to ensure that he overcomes barriers and challenges at work. It also outlines a specific treatment plan.
While the above is a fictitious example, we hope it sheds light on what a bipolar depression assessment might be like. Contact us anytime or schedule a consultation to talk about bipolar disorder testing and what a bipolar depression assessment might do for you or a loved one.
