When mood swings, sleep changes, and energy spikes don't fit anything simple, a bipolar evaluation can help. We work with children, teens, and adults in Port Washington, building a clear picture of mood and cognition. There is no referral required to begin.
Our evaluations provide an in-depth understanding of mood patterns and emotional functioning, focusing on both depressive episodes and periods of elevated mood such as hypomania or mania. We assess symptoms including sleep changes, energy shifts, impulsivity, racing thoughts, grandiosity, and the role of family history. One psychologist owns the full process from start to finish. Each evaluation begins with a cognitive and executive function baseline, then layers in mood-specific measures and screens for overlap with ADHD, anxiety, or trauma.
Children with big mood swings, irritability, disrupted sleep, or sudden bursts of high energy and impulsivity parents struggle to explain.
Teens cycling between low, withdrawn periods and elevated mood, with risk-taking, sleep disruption, or sudden shifts in school functioning.
Adults dealing with mood instability, energy spikes, impulsive decisions, racing thoughts, or recurring strain in relationships and work.
Your evaluation begins with a one-hour clinical interview where your psychologist gathers a thorough history of mood patterns, energy levels, and behavioral changes from childhood through your current daily life. This conversation is critical for identifying the cycling patterns that distinguish bipolar disorder from other mood conditions and for selecting the right assessments.
Your psychologist selects a personalized battery of mood and psychological assessments designed to capture the full range of your experiences. Testing involves 2 to 6 hours of in-person evaluation over one to two days. You will also be sent home with self-report questionnaires, and someone close to you can complete their own to provide perspective on mood and behavioral patterns over time. If your psychologist identifies signs of other conditions (such as ADHD, anxiety, or depression), those areas are screened for as well.
All testing data, clinical observations, and questionnaire results are compiled into a detailed diagnostic report. Accurate differential diagnosis is especially important with bipolar disorder, so your psychologist carefully evaluates mood patterns, episode history, and symptom presentation. Any co-occurring conditions are fully documented.
Approximately two to three weeks after testing, you return for a feedback session. Your psychologist walks through the diagnosis and provides individualized recommendations: treatment planning, evidence-based therapy options, medication considerations, lifestyle management strategies, and next steps tailored to your situation.
Most people pursue a bipolar evaluation after noticing distinct periods of elevated mood, energy, or confidence alternating with stretches of low energy, difficulty functioning, and depressed mood. These cycles vary in length and intensity across individuals. Others notice the pattern only in hindsight, which is why the clinical interview is designed to gather detailed mood history going back years, not just current symptoms.
Yes. Research consistently shows that bipolar disorder is associated with cognitive effects, particularly in attention, processing speed, verbal memory, and executive functioning. Core Spring Diagnostics builds a cognitive and executive function baseline into every evaluation, which allows the psychologist to document these effects and understand how they relate to the individual’s mood history and daily functioning.
Yes. Many people seeking an evaluation at Core Spring Diagnostics are already working with a therapist or counselor. The evaluation provides diagnostic clarity and a written report that the treating therapist can use to refine treatment approaches. Being in therapy does not affect the evaluation process; in fact, the psychologist may request a collateral questionnaire from the therapist if the individual consents.
Anxiety disorders, ADHD, and substance use patterns are among the most common co-occurring conditions found alongside bipolar disorder. Core Spring Diagnostics screens for these and other conditions as a standard part of every mood-related evaluation. When co-occurring conditions are identified, the report includes recommendations that address all of them, not just the primary diagnosis.
A standalone bipolar evaluation answers the diagnostic question but does not cover cognitive functioning, learning, memory, or the full emotional health landscape. For individuals who also have questions about attention, academic or work performance, or other areas of psychological functioning, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is a far more efficient and clinically complete option. The Core Spring Diagnostics team can help you decide which scope fits best.
Call (414) 387-2100 or fill out the consultation request on the Core Spring Diagnostics website. The intake team will gather your concerns, explain the evaluation options, and help you get scheduled with the right scope of assessment.
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