Mood changes treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes, you can. A healthcare provider on Maple will want to discuss your current conditions, and what types of symptoms or signs of mood changes you've been experiencing.

They may also refer you to a psychotherapist to perform a psychological evaluation. In some cases, mood changes could be caused by mental health conditions. Therefore, you may need to speak with a psychotherapist in order to get a clear diagnosis for your mood changes.

Once your healthcare professional provides a diagnosis for mood changes, they'll be able to suggest treatments for your mood changes suited to your needs.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications for mood changes online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription for mood changes, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Most people will go through some form of mood changes in their lives. However, if your behavior becomes erratic or unpredictable for days at a time, it could be caused by mood changes.

Mood changes can be the result of physical injuries or illnesses, as well as mental health conditions. Mood changes can also be caused by hormone imbalances brought on by certain physical developmental changes, like puberty, pregnancy, or menopause.

In many cases, mood changes are signs of other conditions. However, these associated mood change symptoms can appear in many ways, including:

• Changes in appetite or weight
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability or aggression
• Unexplained hostility
• Acute bouts of sadness or lethargy
• Mood that fluctuates acutely (changing from moment to moment)
• Sudden, strong feelings of anxiousness or worry

The person being affected by mood changing symptoms may not immediately realize that their mood has changed. In these cases, loved ones may need to make them aware of their shifts in mood.

There are a variety of mental health conditions that can cause mood changing symptoms, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Cyclothymic disorder
• Dysthymia
• Personality disorders
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Schizophrenia
• Dementia
• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Memory-related disorders
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)

There are also a number of physical conditions that can cause signs of mood changes, such as:

• Diabetes
• Sleep disorders
• Injuries
• Parkinson's disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Thyroid disorders
• Allergies
• Alcohol or drug addiction
• Trauma
• Alzheimer's disease
• Abuse
• Obesity

In addition to these types of triggers, certain medications and developmental life stages can also cause mood changes.

Diagnosis for mood changes can be challenging because so many internal and external factors can affect our moods.

The healthcare provider will want to start with a physical exam to check for any possible physical conditions that could be causing your mood changes. They could suggest additional testing, including some basic blood tests to check your blood cell counts, as well as your thyroid function.

In many cases, they'll also refer you to a psychotherapist to have a psychological evaluation performed.

Once your healthcare provider can provide you with a diagnosis for your mood changes, they will suggest mood change treatments that target the underlying cause. This includes any prescriptions for your mood changes that you may require.

Because mood changes are not a diagnosis in itself, but often caused by underlying conditions, the healthcare provider will suggest treatments for your mood changes that directly target the cause.

This could involve treatments for mood changes like psychotherapy, as well as targeted medications to control mood changes.

It could also involve changes in lifestyle habits to help improve your health. Some of these habitual treatments for mood changes include:

• Exercising regularly
• Avoiding unnecessary stress
• Eating a well-balanced diet
• Getting enough sleep each night
• Maintaining a consistent daily routine
• Finding creative outlets to express yourself
• Practicing yoga or meditation
• Talking about your feelings with loved ones

Everyone has mood changes from time to time. However, if you're finding it difficult to control your mood changes, or your mood change symptoms are persistent, you should talk to a healthcare professional.

A healthcare provider can arrange for necessary testing to provide a diagnosis for your mood changes, including referring you to a psychotherapist.

Once you know why you're experiencing mood changes, the healthcare provider can suggest appropriate treatments for your mood changes. This includes any necessary medications to control mood changes, or suggested lifestyle changes that may help reduce your symptoms.

In some cases, the best course of action for managing mood changes is ongoing psychotherapy and monitoring your condition closely. A healthcare professional from Maple can help you create an effective plan to help you get your mood changes under control.

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists via secure text, audio or video call. Sign in to your Maple account to start a visit. Learn more about how Maple works here.

A visit works a lot like an in-person appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and recommend a treatment plan that's right for you. Not every visit leads to a prescription. Sometimes, you might need to see someone in person. When that happens, we'll help you figure out what comes next.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to care online. Connect with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners in minutes via secure text, audio or video call.

Our membership costs $85/month. One membership. Care for your whole family. In eligible provinces, membership includes:

• Daily visits: one visit a day with a doctor or nurse practitioner for each family member in your household
• Pediatric care: covered pediatric primary care visits, available by appointment
• Second Medical Opinion: when you're unsure about a complex diagnosis, like cancer or MS, or want to understand all your options, you and your family can access an expert Second Medical Opinion
• Personal Health Check-Ins: personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to help you stay on top of your health
• iCBT courses: internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy self-assessments and courses
• Specialists: see a specialist in days, not months. No referral necessary.
• Specialist referrals: a referral to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed

Membership can't be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. A Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) may cover your membership fees. Check with your HSA provider for details.

Your Maple monthly membership covers virtual care for you, your spouse and your dependents under the age of 18 who share the same primary residence. Full disclaimer and refund policy here.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX, plus Google Pay and Apple Pay.

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Our policies and consent processes are simple and easy to understand, so you stay in control. Strong security infrastructure and strict data policies protect every session. You keep control of your personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. We also work with privacy and security experts and review our policies regularly.

All doctors and nurse practitioners who deliver care through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their regulatory colleges. They must follow the telemedicine policies set by the medical regulator in each province.

Regulators across Canada recognize the value of virtual care. It helps improve access to care for patients and makes care delivery more efficient for practitioners and Canada's healthcare system.