Lesson 1Functional assessment: sleep, appetite, energy, cognition, occupational functioning, social supportsThis part looks at key areas like sleep, appetite, energy, thinking, work or school performance, and social supports, showing how this information helps with diagnosis, risk spotting, disability checks, and personal treatment goals.
Assessing sleep, appetite, and energyEvaluating cognition and concentrationWork, school, and role performanceMapping social supports and isolationTracking functional change over timeLesson 2Risk assessment components: suicidality, overdose risk, self-harm, aggression, medical instabilityThis part explains structured checks for suicide thoughts, overdose danger, self-harm, aggression, and health instability, covering warning signs, protective things, and turning findings into safety plans, monitoring, and care level choices.
Suicide risk factors and warning signsAssessing overdose and poisoning riskEvaluating self-harm and non-suicidal injuryAssessing aggression and violence potentialMedical instability and level-of-care decisionsLesson 3Standardized mental health screening tools: PHQ-9, GAD-7, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) — interpretation and administrationThis part shows how to use and understand PHQ-9, GAD-7, and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, with score cutoffs, cultural notes, and mixing results with talks and risk plans.
Using PHQ-9 for depressive symptomsApplying GAD-7 for anxiety screeningAdministering the C-SSRS safelyScore thresholds and clinical cutoffsLimitations and cultural adaptationsLesson 4Motivation and readiness assessment: stages of change, URICA, and brief motivational interviewing readiness rulersThis part covers checking motivation and readiness using change stages, URICA, and readiness scales, plus adding short motivational talking into dual diagnosis checks and care plans.
Applying the stages of change modelUsing URICA in dual diagnosis careReadiness rulers in brief assessmentsIntegrating motivational interviewing skillsDocumenting motivation and treatment goalsLesson 5Standardized substance use screening tools: AUDIT, DAST-10, ASSIST — choosing and interpreting for alcohol and cocaineThis part brings in AUDIT, DAST-10, and ASSIST, with advice on picking tools for alcohol and cocaine, scoring, understanding results, limits, and linking with talks and diagnosis standards.
Overview of AUDIT structure and scoringUsing DAST-10 for drug-related problemsApplying ASSIST for multiple substancesScreening for alcohol and cocaine useCombining tools with clinical judgmentLesson 6Comprehensive biopsychosocial history: substance use timeline, mental health history, medical history, legal and occupational factorsThis part shows how to do a full biopsychosocial history, with detailed substance timelines, mental health and medical pasts, trauma, legal and work issues, and pulling it into a dual diagnosis case summary.
Building a detailed substance use timelineExploring past and current mental healthAssessing medical history and comorbiditiesLegal, financial, and occupational impactsSynthesizing data into case formulationLesson 7Medical and laboratory assessments: vital signs, ECG indications, urine drug screen, liver function tests, pregnancy test, and metabolic screeningThis part goes over key medical and lab checks in dual diagnosis, like vital signs, ECG needs, urine drug tests, liver checks, pregnancy tests, and metabolic screens, and how results guide safety, detox, and meds.
Interpreting vital signs and red flagsWhen to obtain an ECG and whyUsing urine drug screens effectivelyLiver function tests and hepatotoxicityPregnancy and metabolic safety screeningLesson 8Collateral information gathering: family, employer, police/medical records, and coordination with multidisciplinary team membersThis part covers getting and using extra info from family, bosses, records, and team members, while keeping confidentiality, consent, and cultural respect to make a better dual diagnosis picture.
Obtaining informed consent for collateralFamily perspectives on symptoms and useUsing employer and occupational reportsReviewing police and medical recordsCoordinating with multidisciplinary teams
