01 · Mood
Unusually elevated or irritable mood
Periods of feeling much more energized, confident, driven, euphoric, agitated, or irritable than usual.
Based in San Diego · Telehealth across California
Online bipolar disorder evaluation and medication management across California.
Adult-focused care for an established bipolar diagnosis or episodes of depression, unusually elevated or irritable mood, less need for sleep, increased energy, impulsivity, or major changes in daily functioning.
This telehealth practice does not provide emergency or crisis services. Severe mania, psychosis, inability to care for basic needs, or immediate risk of harm requires urgent in-person evaluation. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988.
Self-pay: $175 initial evaluation · $100 follow-up. Reduced fees may be available. View fees.
Insurance: Pacific Health Systems clinic · 760-800-4867. Call to confirm your exact plan. Speak with my medical assistant to request an insurance appointment with Brent Edwards.
100% telehealthAvailable throughout California
Adult-focused careEvaluation and ongoing management
60-minute intakeTime to review episode history carefully
Insurance & self-paySeparate secure booking pathways
Recognizing episode patterns
Bipolar symptoms involve changes in more than mood.
An assessment considers changes in energy, sleep, activity, speech, thinking, judgment, behavior, daily functioning, and the timing of depressive episodes.
02 · Sleep
Decreased need for sleep
Sleeping much less than usual while still feeling energetic, rather than feeling tired from ordinary insomnia.
03 · Activity
Increased activity or drive
Taking on many projects, becoming unusually active or restless, or feeling unable to slow down.
04 · Thinking & speech
Racing thoughts or rapid communication
Thoughts moving quickly, talking more or faster than usual, or changing topics rapidly.
05 · Judgment
Impulsive or high-risk behavior
Unusual or harmful changes in spending, sexual behavior, substance use, driving, conflict, or major decisions.
06 · Depression
Periods of significant low mood
Loss of interest, hopelessness, fatigue, guilt, sleep or appetite changes, impaired concentration, or suicidal thoughts.
Adult bipolar self-screening
Explore your history of mood and energy changes.
The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) asks about lifetime periods of unusual changes in mood, energy, sleep, and behavior. This adult screen is a starting point for discussion, not a diagnosis. A qualified clinician must evaluate symptoms, episode duration, impact, and other possible causes.
Results are calculated in your browser. This form does not ask for your name, send answers to the practice, or store your answers in our system. No clinician monitors this page.
Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) — adults 18+
Has there ever been a period of time when you were not your usual self and…
Answer each symptom question about your lifetime, rather than only the past two weeks. Then answer the timing and impact questions.
Understanding your result
The standard positive-screen rule requires seven or more Yes symptom responses, several symptoms occurring in the same period, and moderate or serious problems. All three conditions must be met. This rule is a screening threshold, not a diagnosis or a probability estimate.
A negative screen does not exclude bipolar disorder, especially bipolar II. Some people do not recognize past hypomanic episodes or experience them as productive periods. Other conditions, substances, medication effects, and sleep disruption can produce similar symptoms.
Why a full evaluation matters
Bipolar disorder involves distinct episodes of changes in mood and energy. An evaluation considers whether these episodes represent mania, hypomania, depression, or another explanation. Daily mood fluctuations alone are not enough to diagnose bipolar disorder. With your permission, information from someone who knows you well can help clarify the history.
Do not change medication based on this screen. If you currently have very little sleep with escalating energy, dangerous impulsivity, hallucinations, or difficulty staying safe, seek urgent clinical assessment. For immediate danger, call 911. In the U.S., call or text 988 for crisis support.
Diagnostic clarification
What a bipolar psychiatric evaluation includes.
Bipolar symptoms can overlap with depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, sleep problems, substance use, medication effects, and medical conditions. Diagnosis depends on episode pattern, length, severity, and consequences.
Important: A screening questionnaire or a single period of stress-related mood change does not establish bipolar disorder.
- Timeline of depressive, elevated, irritable, or mixed symptoms
- Changes in sleep need, energy, activity, speech, thinking, judgment, and daily functioning
- Past hospitalization, psychosis, suicidal behavior, aggression, or major consequences
- Previous diagnoses, medication response, antidepressant reactions, and relevant family history
- Substance use, stimulant use, medical conditions, and current medications
- Records or information from family or previous clinicians, with permission, when useful
Your first appointment
Understand the episode history before finalizing a plan.
The first visit reviews episode history, safety, prior treatment, and whether telehealth is the right level of care.
Complete secure intake forms.
Share psychiatric, medical, medication, substance-use, family, sleep, and safety information.
Meet by telehealth for 60 minutes.
Review mood and energy changes, consequences, prior treatment, and current goals.
Clarify diagnosis and level of care.
Recommendations may include medication, therapy, laboratory testing, medical coordination, record review, or a higher level of care.
Use follow-up to support stability.
Follow-up reviews mood, sleep, energy, daily functioning, medication use, side effects, safety, and warning signs.
Treatment planning
Bipolar care usually requires ongoing follow-up.
Treatment depends on episode type, severity, medical history, prior response, laboratory needs, pregnancy potential, preferences, and other supports.
Careful selection and monitoring
Medication plans may include mood-stabilizing or antipsychotic medication. Antidepressant decisions require careful assessment when bipolar disorder is present.
- Review of current and previous medication effects
- Discussion of benefits, risks, alternatives, and monitoring
- Laboratory tests and monitoring of weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol when relevant
- Adjustment based on symptoms, functioning, and tolerability
Support for long-term stability
Therapy, consistent sleep, daily structure, reduced substance use, trusted support, and recognizing warning signs can support stability.
- Coordination with therapists and medical clinicians, with permission
- Education about episode patterns and warning signs
- Safety planning and crisis recommendations when needed
- Specialty or higher-level referral when needed
Outpatient telehealth scope
Know when telehealth is not enough.
Bipolar symptoms can escalate quickly. Telehealth is appropriate only when urgent in-person care is not needed.
Seek urgent evaluation
Severe agitation, psychosis, dangerous impulsivity, prolonged lack of sleep with rising energy, inability to meet basic needs, or immediate risk of harm requires urgent in-person assessment.
Emergency and crisis options
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for immediate danger. Call or text 988 for crisis support in the United States.
Planned transitions
When intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential, or inpatient care is more appropriate, the focus shifts to connecting with that service.
Brent Edwards
PMHNP-BC
PMHNP-BC
Meet your provider
Collaborative psychiatric care, explained clearly.
Brent Edwards is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with experience in crisis psychiatry, military medicine, and outpatient care. He provides telehealth appointments throughout California.
Care emphasizes careful listening, plain-language education, shared decisions, and follow-up informed by safety, medical factors, medication response, and long-term goals.
Board-certified PMHNPTelehealth across CaliforniaAdult-focused careMedication management
Frequently asked questions
Questions about online bipolar disorder care.
How is bipolar disorder different from ordinary mood swings?
Bipolar disorder involves distinct episodes that change mood, energy, activity, sleep, thinking, behavior, and daily functioning. Ordinary emotional changes are usually shorter, less intense, and tied more closely to events.
Can bipolar disorder be diagnosed in one visit?
Diagnosis may require more visits, prior records, medication history, observation over time, or information from family or previous clinicians with permission. Symptoms can overlap with other conditions.
Can you manage medications for an established bipolar diagnosis?
Yes, when telehealth care is appropriate. Prior records, medication history, laboratory results, and coordination with other clinicians may be requested.
Are laboratory tests sometimes required?
Yes. Some medications require laboratory tests, pregnancy testing, monitoring of weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol, or review of kidney, liver, thyroid, and other medical factors.
What if I may be manic or unsafe right now?
Severe mania, psychosis, inability to care for basic needs, dangerous behavior, or immediate risk of harm requires urgent in-person evaluation. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988 for crisis support.
Can I use insurance?
Insurance appointments are available through Pacific Health Systems at the clinic. Call 760-800-4867 to speak with my medical assistant, confirm your exact plan and benefits, and request an appointment with Brent Edwards. The clinic accepts most major plans, including Medicare and Medi-Cal; coverage depends on your specific plan.
Ready to begin?
Choose the booking path that fits you.
Insurance appointments are available through Pacific Health Systems at the clinic. Call 760-800-4867 to speak with my medical assistant, confirm your exact plan and benefits, and request an appointment with Brent Edwards. The clinic accepts most major plans, including Medicare and Medi-Cal; coverage depends on your specific plan.
Educational resource: Learn more from the National Institute of Mental Health bipolar disorder overview. This page is educational and does not replace an individualized clinical evaluation.