by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jan 8, 2026 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to treating mental disorders right now? A few months ago, I asked this question to my community and I received a range of responses—from managing co-morbid disorders to knowing the appropriate medications and dosages to...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Dec 16, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
You’ve probably heard it before—”ADHD is overdiagnosed in adults”. Maybe you’ve even had colleagues or friends voice concerns that stimulants are being prescribed too freely, especially in light of the national shortage. And with TikTok influencers...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Dec 9, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
Have you ever opened a patient’s chart, scanned a long list of psychiatric medications, and wondered, “How did we get here?” Or faced a swirl of overlapping symptoms and felt unsure which direction to go first? If so, you’re not alone. Even seasoned PMHNPs encounter...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Nov 25, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
Bipolar disorder is one of the most challenging conditions to accurately diagnose—especially when it doesn’t present in textbook form. Over the years, I’ve found one simple yet powerful tool to be especially helpful in clinical interviews: the 5 A’s of bipolar...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Nov 11, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
As a provider who primarily treats adults, my experience with ADHD diagnosis and treatment has been limited. Over the past few years, I’ve been learning more about diagnosing and managing ADHD, especially in the adult population. What’s become clear is just how much...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Oct 23, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
Why Bipolar Disorder Is Often Misunderstood Bipolar disorder is often misunderstood, both by the general public and even by some patients themselves. It’s common for people to casually use the term “bipolar” to describe mood swings, but the actual bipolar disorder...