What is a Mood Disorder Assessment?
All psychological services, including assessments, are delivered under supervised practice.
Mood disorder assessments are designed to evaluate a wide range of emotional concerns that impact day-to-day functioning, relationships, and overall well-being. These assessments help identify specific patterns of mood disruption and provide a clear diagnostic impression to guide effective treatment. Conditions commonly assessed include:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, fatigue, cognitive changes, and disrupted functioning. - Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
A chronic form of depression involving long-term low mood, low self-esteem, and emotional heaviness that may go unrecognized for years. - Bipolar I Disorder
Involves episodes of full mania and often, but not always, periods of depression. Manic episodes may include elevated mood, impulsivity, decreased need for sleep, and risky behavior. - Bipolar II Disorder
Features hypomanic episodes (less severe than full mania) alongside major depressive episodes. Often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as unipolar depression. - Cyclothymic Disorder
A less intense but chronic pattern of mood swings that includes numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms without meeting full criteria for bipolar I or II. - Mood Disorder Due to a Medical Condition or Substance Use
Assessments also consider whether mood symptoms are linked to underlying medical issues or the effects of medication, substances, or withdrawal.
Each assessment explores symptom history, emotional regulation patterns, functional impairments, and potential co-occurring concerns.
Because mood disorders often overlap with other conditions, such as anxiety, trauma-related responses, ADHD, or substance use, the assessment process screens for and evaluates these possibilities to ensure diagnostic accuracy and integrative treatment planning.
Cost
Psychological Assessment Fee: $1,600 CAD.
Services are tax-exempt under psychological healthcare provisions in Canada.
This flat-rate fee includes a comprehensive assessment process delivered under supervised practice, designed to provide clarity, diagnostic insight, and personalized recommendations.
These psychological services are available only to individuals residing in Canada.
Insurance Reimbursement
ADHD assessments are typically covered under extended health benefits as part of "Psychological Assessment Services." Most insurance plans in Canada include annual coverage for services provided by an independently licensed or supervised psychological professional.
Please check with your insurance provider to confirm the following:
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Whether psychological assessments are included in your plan.
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The total amount of coverage available per calendar year, so you know your budget.
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If a referral from a physician is required for reimbursement.
An insurance receipt will be provided for you to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement.
What's Included
This is a flat-rate fee for a comprehensive psychological assessment focused on evaluating mood-related concerns such as depression, bipolar disorder, and emotional dysregulation. The goal is to provide diagnostic clarity, meaningful insights, and personalized recommendations to support treatment, well-being, and day-to-day functioning.
The full assessment process typically includes four sessions, offered in-person or virtually (within Canada), and involves:
Key Benefits of ADHD Assessment
Mood disorder assessments are designed to evaluate a wide range of emotional concerns that impact day-to-day functioning, relationships, and overall well-being. These assessments help identify specific patterns of mood disruption and provide a clear diagnostic impression to guide effective treatment. Conditions commonly assessed include:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, fatigue, cognitive changes, and disrupted functioning. - Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
A chronic form of depression involving long-term low mood, low self-esteem, and emotional heaviness that may go unrecognized for years. - Bipolar I Disorder
Involves episodes of full mania and often, but not always, periods of depression. Manic episodes may include elevated mood, impulsivity, decreased need for sleep, and risky behavior. - Bipolar II Disorder
Features hypomanic episodes (less severe than full mania) alongside major depressive episodes. Often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as unipolar depression. - Cyclothymic Disorder
A less intense but chronic pattern of mood swings that includes numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms without meeting full criteria for bipolar I or II. - Mood Disorder Due to a Medical Condition or Substance Use
Assessments also consider whether mood symptoms are linked to underlying medical issues or the effects of medication, substances, or withdrawal.
Each assessment explores symptom history, emotional regulation patterns, functional impairments, and potential co-occurring concerns.
Because mood disorders often overlap with other conditions, such as anxiety, trauma-related responses, ADHD, or substance use, the assessment process screens for and evaluates these possibilities to ensure diagnostic accuracy and integrative treatment planning.
Core Symptoms
Understanding Mood Disorders—Beyond Ups and Downs
Mood disorders are a category of mental health conditions that affect a person’s emotional state, energy, motivation, and ability to function in daily life. While everyone experiences emotional ups and downs, mood disorders involve persistent, intense, or cyclical emotional states that interfere with relationships, work, self-care, and overall well-being.
Mood disorders may include conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia), Bipolar I or II Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder. These conditions can present differently across individuals and over time, making an accurate assessment essential for effective support.
Mood disorders are not a result of personal weakness or a lack of willpower. They are often related to biological, psychological, and environmental factors, including neurochemical differences, trauma history, stress, and genetic vulnerability.
- Depressive Symptoms:
- Ongoing sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities.
- Fatigue, low energy, or physical slowing.
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or self-blame .
- Changes in sleep or appetite.
- Thoughts of death, suicide, or not wanting to exist.
- Bipolar/Hypomanic Symptoms:
- Periods of elevated or irritable mood.
- Increased energy, activity, or restlessness.
- Reduced need for sleep without fatigue.
- Racing thoughts or rapid speech.
- Impulsive or risky behavior.
- Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
- Shifts between high and low mood states that feel difficult to control.
- Mood disorders often co-occur with other mental health conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, trauma-related disorders, or substance use challenges, which can complicate the clinical picture and lead to delayed or misdiagnosis.
How is Mood Disorders are Assessed?
A Step-by-Step Look at the Evaluation Process
A comprehensive mood disorder assessment uses multiple data sources to build an accurate, nuanced understanding of emotional functioning, mood regulation, and psychological well-being. The goal is to differentiate between types of mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar spectrum) and identify contributing or co-occurring factors that may influence symptom presentation.
- Clinical Interview: The process begins with a detailed clinical interview to explore your current concerns, emotional history, life stressors, and how symptoms have impacted your daily functioning, relationships, and overall quality of life.
- Structured Diagnostic Interview: Validated clinical tools (e.g., MINI, SCID, or mood-specific structured interviews) are used to evaluate depressive and bipolar symptoms, their severity, duration, and patterns over time.
- Standardized Self-Report Measures: You will complete evidence-based self-report measures that assess mood symptoms, emotional regulation, self-esteem, sleep, motivation, and energy levels. These help capture the subjective experience of depression, hypomania, or emotional instability.
- Collateral Input (if applicable): With your consent, information may be gathered from family members, partners, or other professionals to provide additional insight into symptom patterns, behavioral observations, and mood-related changes over time.
- Cognitive and Functional Screening When relevant, brief cognitive tasks or functional inventories may be included to assess attention, memory, processing speed, or executive functioning—particularly when symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder affect thinking and daily performance.
- Screening for Co-Occurring Conditions: Because mood disorders often overlap with other mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, ADHD, trauma, or substance use), the assessment process includes screening for related concerns to ensure diagnostic clarity and avoid misdiagnosis.
- Integrated Clinical Formulation and Report: All findings are synthesized into a comprehensive psychological report that includes diagnostic impressions based on DSM-5-TR criteria, a contextual clinical formulation, and tailored recommendations for treatment, support, or follow-up care.
- Professional Oversight: Assessments are reviewed and co-signed by a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario if the assessor is in supervised practice.
