by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Mar 24, 2026 | Best practices
As mental health providers, we often hear something along the lines of:”There’s no time for thorough assessments in today’s healthcare environment.” But the truth is, skipping proper mental health assessments doesn’t save time — it actually...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jan 22, 2026 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
Which of the following clinical presentations most strongly suggests Bipolar disorder rather than Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)? A. Hypersomnia and increased appetite during depressive episodesB. Multiple past antidepressant trials with inadequate responseC. Brief...
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 20, 2025 | Best practices
Early in my career as a psych NP, I constantly asked myself, “What medication should I be prescribing?” I was treating highly complex patients in community mental health, and I often felt like a fraud—uncertain of how to move forward with confidence. It took time (and...