Assessment Tools

Bipolar disorders are difficult to diagnose and treat, despite their global prevalence and pervasiveness. With the proper tools, however, clinicians and researchers alike are able to detect bipolar disorders in their patients and establish the proper treatment plans. Knowing the prevalence of bipolar disorders and other common diagnoses in a specific setting, gathering predictive information before the first visit, and screening patients with efficient, low-cost assessment options are a few of the ways that clinicians can be better prepared to detect bipolar disorders in their patients. Further, assessment should not halt once a diagnosis is established; brief, recurring measures to collect data about a patient’s current state throughout treatment offer important information about symptoms, progress, and how a treatment plan can be tailored to meet a client’s ongoing needs. This chapter equips clinicians and researchers with the tools to confidently diagnose their patients with bipolar disorders, suggesting tips to establish diagnostic hypotheses as well as specific assessments for both adults and youths for whom the diagnosis seems likely. Technology in particular offers the opportunity to access low-cost assessment options and administer ongoing measures to ensure that clinicians continue to meet their patients’ needs throughout the treatment process.