by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Dec 4, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
When prescribing psychotropic medications, lifestyle factors often make or break the safety and effectiveness of treatment. As PMHNPs, our clinical decisions can’t stop at the medication alone—we have to consider what else patients are doing in their day-to-day lives...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Dec 2, 2025 | Best practices, Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Prescribing the “right” psychotropic medication isn’t about guessing or relying on trial-and-error—it’s about building a strong clinical foundation. When PMHNPs prescribe psychotropic medications using a structured, step-by-step approach, they move from haphazard care...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Nov 27, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Psychiatrist Dr. Roger McIntyre from the University of Toronto once called quetiapine (Seroquel) the “salt & pepper of psychiatry.” When it comes to Seroquel prescribing tips, many providers use this medication by sprinkling low doses here and there to adjust the...
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...