Unstable Mood Scales Historical Markers, Treatment Scale, Symptom Picutre
Historical Markers-Treatment Irritability Scale-Symptoms of Unstable Mood Disorder
Historical Markers: Check after number if the list applies, then circle specifics that further apply.
These problems often are present in the development of child who goes on to develop a unstable mood disorder that can progress into a “Bipolar Type” Disorder responding to mood stabilizing medications.
1) [ ] Colic as infant hard to soothe, calm down, fussy, needy, easily upset, whinny irritable
2) [ ] Temper tantrums , rages lasting from minutes to hours, can’t calm self down
3) [ ] Severe and recurrent separation anxiety, fear of being without parent and alone
4) [ ] Fears, phobia, social anxiety, avoids things, shy, panic and anxiety attacks
5) [ ] Rituals like hand washing, counting, keeping things in order, sequencing
6) [ ] Rapid pressured sleep, racing thoughts, hard to follow, changes subjects
7) [ ] Over activity, impulsivity, distractibility driven by mood, relationships, and milieu
8) [ ] Changing moods, silly, goofy, to sad, mad, bad, Dr. Jeckle & Mr. Hyde
9) [ ] Nightmares, sleep walking, sleep talking, night terrors, bed wetting
10) [ ] Motor twitches of eyes, nose, face, sniffing, throat clearing, coughing
11) [ ] Eating too much, craves carbohydrates, binge eats, weight changes
12) [ ] Migraine headaches that put person in bed, stop from playing, working
13) [ ] Extremely bossy , bullying behavior with siblings, peers, needs to be in charge
14) [ ] Conduct issues, lying, cruel to animals, people, destroys property, steals
15) [ ] Can’t fall asleep, sleep too much, hard to wake up, sleep too little and still rested
Irritability Scale: Check after number if the list applies, then circle specifics that further apply
This scale represents some of the most troublesome symptoms of an unstable mood and can be used to measure the effectiveness of medication treatment.
1) [ ] Demands must be met immediately 9) [ ] Does physical violence to self
2) [ ] Mood is depressed 10) [ ] Deliberately hurts self
3) [ ] Yells at inappropriate times 11) [ ] Stamps feet, bangs objects, slams doors
4) [ ] Is irritable and whiny 12) [ ] Cries and screams inappropriately
5. [ ] Has temper tantrums 13) [ ] Mood changes quickly
6) [ ] Screams inappropriately 14) [ ] Cries over minor annoyances and hurts
7) [ ] Has tantrums when doesn’t get own way 15) [ ] Injures self on purpose
8) [ ] Is aggressive towards others, verbally/physically
Mood Symptoms: Check after number if the list applies, then circle specifics that further apply.
An unstable mood disorder by definition has episodes, so that the its symptoms may come and go in waves which makes it crucial that the total symptom picture over multiple episodes be used to clarify and confirm diagnosis.
1. [ ] Often unpleasant, irritable, nasty, mean, excitable, defiant to authorities, bullies peers
2. [ ] Short fuse, easily made angry, can’t calm self down in 20 min, rages lasting from minutes to hours
3. [ ] Quick and frequent mood swings, ups and downs of feeling states, Dr Jekle & Mr. Hyde
4. [ ] Too demanding & demands must be met immediately, difficult to live with, walking on eggshells
5. [ ] Can’t control anger, aggressive, violent, destructive to property, physically hurts others
6. [ ] Injures self on purpose, self mutilates, bangs head, bites self, punches walls
7. [ ] Brief periods of sadness, irritable and whinny, cries over small annoyances and hurts
8. [ ] Depression Equivalents-Low energy states only occur with physical illnesses like headaches, GI problems
9. [ ] Speech-Talks too much, too fast, difficult to follow, goes off on tangents , talks in circles
10. [ ] Sleep-Needs little sleep but not tired next , often unable to sleep because mind won’t shut down
11. [ ] Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities, that have high potential for painful consequences
12. [ ] Manic- Too happy, cheerful, enthusiastic, silly, giddy, goofy, overly friendly, even with strangers
13. [ ] Grandiose-Thinks too highly of self, over values abilities, sets unrealistic goals, bossy, needs to be in charge
14. [ ] Racing Thoughts-Subjective experience of too many emotionally charged thoughts, too fast
15. [ ] Impulsive-Not thinking of consequences of behavior, speech, goals, plans, and relationships
16. [ ] Distractible-Attention and concentration changes with mood, distracted by minor and unimportant things
17. [ ] Hyperactive-Mostly high energy states with increase of goal directed activities at home, work, school socially