Online

Clinic

Black Dog Institute

Online Clinic Assessment Report

The following report has been generated based on the answers you provided in the online questionnaires. You will find your results,
suggested next steps, and some resources for you to use on the next few pages. We understand that some of the content in this report
may be confronting, but there are steps that you can take and services available that have been shown to help.

The Black Dog Institute Online Clinic is a free online mental health assessment tool. It is designed to give information about mental
health symptoms and to also provide information about options for face-to-face and evidence-based online e-mental health support
and resources that may be helpful.

The Online Clinic is not a substitute for professional clinical advice. Great care has been taken to provide you with personalised
recommendations based on your responses, but you should always seek the advice of a qualified health professional with any
questions about your health.
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Clinic

Assessed: 05:47AM, 21 Sep 2019

Black Dog Institute

Online Clinic Assessment Report
This report is in 2 parts, each part details your assessment results and recommendations.

Part 1 focuses on results of questions that consider symptoms of:

Anxiety
Depression

Part 2 focuses on results of the additional questionnaires that you responded to, which include:

Bipolar disorder (intense highs)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (Obsessive and repetitive behaviours)
Psychosis (Unusual experiences)

Part 1- Depression and anxiety results

You appear to have a lot of symptoms of both depression and anxiety at present. Given these results, it is likely that you are
experiencing depression and possibly an anxiety disorder. Depression and anxiety symptoms often appear together, so this
combination is not at all unusual. It is important you understand that both depression and anxiety symptoms are treatable, so you
should be able to get help for each of these issues. Further information and recommended next steps can be found in the following
pages.

Your depression score on the PHQ-9:

Severe - 22

0 22 27

None Mild Moderate Moderately Severe Severe

Your anxiety score on the GAD-7:

Severe - 16

0 16 21

None Mild Moderate Severe

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Recommendations
Positive on depression and anxiety
You appear to be showing symptoms of both depression and anxiety at present. Depression and anxiety symptoms often
appear together, so this combination is not at all unusual. The good news is that both depression and anxiety are treatable.
However, accurate diagnosis of anxiety and depression cannot be based purely on the result of this online screening. We
therefore suggest that you book an appointment with a doctor to confirm diagnosis. Take a printed copy of this report with
you and book a long (or double) appointment so you have plenty of time to discuss your concerns, options and next steps.

myCompass
myCompass is a free, online self-help program for your mental health. It provides
assessment and self-help courses that can support you with a wide range of
mental health issues, including both depression and anxiety.

https://www.mycompass.org.au

MindSpot
MindSpot is a free service for Australian adults who are experiencing challenges
with low mood and depression. MindSpot offers a range of online courses, with
some additional support from their clinically-trained staff.

https://mindspot.org.au/wellbeing-course

If you feel really down or worried and need to speak to someone straight away,
call Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or triple
zero (000).
Part 2- Additional questionnaires results
As well as asking you questions about depression and anxiety, we also asked you additional questions about other symptoms,
including mood fluctuations, obsessive and repetitive behaviours and unusual experiences.

Based on these additional questions, there was evidence that:

You have symptoms suggesting a possible diagnosis of

Bipolar disorder (intense highs)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (Obsessive and repetitive behaviours)
Psychosis (Unusual experiences)

On the following pages we provide some information about these conditions and how they can be treated. We have provided
websites where you can learn more and suggest a range of treatment options, both online treatments as well as other
treatments that you will need to discuss with a doctor. We understand that this can be a lot of information to absorb, so think
about printing this report out so you can take your time reading through the various options. Speaking with a doctor about
this report and its recommendations is an important next step and hopefully the information in this report will help make this
easier.

Well done on taking this first step and we wish you all the best on your journey.
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Bipolar disorder (intense highs)

Based on your responses to this questionnaire, it is possible that you may have a mood disorder called bipolar disorder.

An accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder cannot be based purely on the result of this online screening. We therefore suggest
that you book an appointment with a doctor to confirm diagnosis. Bipolar disorder can be treated, but it is important to
diagnose type of bipolar disorder you experience and pick the right type of treatment for you and your symptoms.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is an ongoing mental health condition that involves strong changes in mood and energy. People experiencing
bipolar disorder can have depressive episodes (low mood, feeling hopeless, extreme sadness and lack of interest and pleasure
in things) and can have manic or hypomanic episodes.

What is mania?
Mania is a period of abnormally and persistently high mood or irritable mood and abnormally increased energy and activity.
It lasts at least a week and is present nearly all the time for that episode. During this time, there can be other symptoms, such
as need for less sleep, inflated self esteem, being more talkative, a sense that thoughts are racing, being easily distracted, an
increase in goal-directed activity and becoming involved in risky activities.

Sometimes, a person experiencing mania can have psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations (hearing, seeing or
sensing things that are not real). People who experience psychotic symptoms are more likely to need hospitalisation.

What is hypomania?
Hypomania means 'less than mania'. A hypomanic episode has the same symptoms as a manic episode, but it is less severe. It
still involves a distinct period (at least four consecutive days and present most of the time) of abnormally and persistently
elevated or irritable mood and increased energy and activity. As with mania, when experiencing hypomania other symptoms
can also be present, such as the need for less sleep, inflated self esteem, being more talkative, a sense that thoughts are racing,
being easily distracted, an increase in goal-directed activity and becoming involved in risky activities. While a hypomanic
episode is observable by others and represents a change in functioning that is not characteristic for the person, the mood
isn't so severe that it causes problems with functioning at work or socially. In hypomania, there is never psychosis (delusions
or hallucinations).

Recommendations
We strongly recommend that you make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible to discuss these results. Book a
longer appointment so there is time for a doctor to check your health and wellbeing and for you to discuss the results of
these questions. Your doctor may talk to you about medication that can assist with problematic mood fluctuations and/or
may refer you to a psychiatrist for a comprehensive diagnostic assessment, and if appropriate, for treatment.

Effective treatment of bipolar disorder needs a personalised management (treatment and prevention) plan. This is because
everyone responds slightly differently and because if it is not treated, it makes it hard to consistently cope with work, home,
study or social activities. Effective treatment typically involves medication, psychological therapies and lifestyle changes,
with the aim of preventing mood symptoms and improving your quality of life.

Black Dog Institute Resources for Mood Issues

Black Dog Institute is a world leader in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of mood disorders. Our website has information and fact sheets about
bipolar disorder, including information about mania and hypomania.

https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/clinical-resources/bipolar-disorder/what-
is-bipolar-disorder
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Obsessive compulsive disorder (Obsessive and repetitive behaviours)

Your result indicates that the symptoms you are currently experiencing are likely to be part of an obsessive compulsive
disorder (OCD).

OCD is a specific type of anxiety disorder in which people are troubled by two related symptoms, obsession and compulsion.
Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts or urges that make you feel upset or distressed. Compulsions are behaviours
that you undertake to stop the obsessions.

Most people experience some obsessions and compulsions at different times in their lives, but for some they can become very
distressing and can get in the way of other activities. OCD symptoms can often get worse when people are stressed or living
with other conditions, such as depression. The most important thing for you to realise is that OCD is very treatable.

Recommendations
There are two types of treatment known to work for OCD. One is a specific type of talking therapy, called cognitive
behavioural therapy (CBT) and the other is medication.

We encourage you to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss these results and your current symptoms. You can
print these results to take with you to help your doctor understand your current issues. A doctor will be able confirm if OCD
is the correct diagnosis for your symptoms and give you advice about what treatment type is likely to be best suited to you.

If you want to learn a bit more about OCD and the treatment options before you speak with your doctor, have a look at this
website.

SANE
SANE provides information and resources for people living with OCD.

If you are not yet ready to speak to your doctor and think you might like to try an
online treatment program first, then have a look at this website. The program they
offer is evidence-based and low cost.

https://www.sane.org/mental-health-and-illness/facts-and-guides/obsessive-
compulsive-disorder#resources

This Way Up
This Way Up is an online course designed for people living with OCD. Access
involves a fee which can be seen on the website. The course teaches practical
skills to help people recover from the condition.

https://thiswayup.org.au/how-we-can-help/courses/obsessive-compulsive-
disorder/
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Psychosis (Unusual experiences)

Your results indicate that it is possible that you may be experiencing some symptoms of psychosis. However, an accurate
diagnosis of psychosis cannot be based purely on the result of this online screening. We therefore suggest that you book an
appointment with a doctor to discuss these symptoms more.

Psychosis is a mental health condition where a person’s brain functioning is disrupted, affecting their thoughts, perceptions,
emotions and behaviour. During psychosis, a person loses the ability to tell what is real from what is not. The person may
believe or perceive things that are not real, and their thoughts may become confused or slower. The first episode of psychosis
usually happens in a person’s late teens or early twenties, although psychosis can occur later in life for some.

Some people just experience a few episodes of psychosis or a short episode that lasts a few days or weeks. Others experience
episodes of psychosis more frequently as a part of other longer-term mental health conditions. Psychosis is treatable.

Recommendations
As a first step, we suggest that you book an appointment with a doctor and take a printed copy of this report with you. Book a
long (or double) appointment so you have plenty of time to discuss your results, well-being, options and next steps.

Your doctor can then refer you to a psychiatrist for diagnostic assessment and any necessary treatment. Psychosis is
treatable, but results tend to be better when treatment is started as early as possible. Treatment usually involves medication,
psychological therapy from health specialists who have expertise in treating psychosis, and community support programs
which, if needed, can assist with social connection, health and wellbeing, accommodation and work or study.

If you would like to find out more information about psychosis, please consider the below online resources providing
information and fact guides about psychosis.

SANE
SANE provides information and fact guides about psychosis.

https://www.sane.org/information-stories/facts-and-guides/psychosis

Psychosis Australia Trust

Psychosis Australia Trust provides information about psychosis.

https://www.psychosisaustralia.com.au/why-pat/