Our assessments are completed in two stages

Stage 1

Mood Assessment Program - A world first assessment and diagnostic program for depression and bipolar disorder

We will firstly schedule a time for the patient to come into the clinic to complete the MAP. The MAP is a computerised assessment and diagnostic tool for mood disorders. It incorporates nearly a quarter of a century of sophisticated clinical expertise in assessment, diagnosis and management planning for people with mood disorders (both depressive and bipolar disorders). In 2002 the Black Dog Institute, led by Professor Gordon Parker, conceived the MAP as a computerised assessment program that would capture the consolidated clinical expertise and decision making of clinical research psychiatrists who had worked at the Mood Disorders Unit (now part of the Black Dog Institute) since 1985.

A patient with a mood disorder spends approximately one hour entering information into a computer program at our clinic. The data is transferred to the Black Dog Institute where a computer prepares a comprehensive report which is mailed to the referring psychiatrist at The Lawson Clinic the next working day following patient assessment. The report contains a wealth of information including important diagnostic probability decisions.

Stage 2

Once the MAP report is at hand, the patient will meet with a psychiatrist at The Lawson Clinic where they will receive a thorough assessment of their mental health problem/s. The patient can expect empathy, understanding, confidentiality and a sufficient time to express their thoughts and feelings.

After assessing the patient, and if the diagnosis is clear, the psychiatrist will inform the patient of the following:

• Whether the patient has depression or bipolar disorder, and if so, what type it is.

• Where relevant, the patient will be told why the illness developed at this point in time.

• A management strategy will be recommended.

As The Lawson Clinic is a treatment clinic, we are able to follow up with patients at regular intervals.

Our Psychiatrists