Lesson 1Medical and medication history: thyroid, anaemia, neurological symptoms, medication/substance interactions, and red-flag conditionsThis part organises how to take medical and medication history that's key for psychiatry. It points out thyroid issues, anaemia, neurological and immune system signs, current medicines, interactions, substances, and urgent conditions that need quick medical checks.
Screening for systemic and endocrine illnessNeurologic symptoms and seizure historyMedication list, adherence, and side effectsSubstance, supplement, and interaction reviewRed-flag signs needing urgent evaluationLesson 2Functional assessment: occupational, social, cognitive functioning, ADLs, and workplace performance questioningThis part teaches how to check functioning in work, school, home, and social life. It covers daily activities, more complex tasks, thinking skills, missing work, being at work but not productive, and role performance, connecting problems to diagnosis and care plans.
Evaluating work and school performanceAssessing social and family role functioningActivities of daily living and self-careInstrumental tasks and independent livingSubjective versus observed impairmentLesson 3Bipolar spectrum screening: past hypomanic/manic symptoms, duration, impact, and screening tools (MDQ)This part trains clinicians to check for bipolar spectrum disorders. It looks at past hypomanic and manic symptoms, how long they lasted, their effects, mixed features, and using the MDQ, while noting common mistakes and ways to avoid wrong diagnoses.
Eliciting past hypomanic and manic episodesAssessing duration, severity, and impairmentIdentifying mixed and rapid cycling featuresUsing and interpreting the MDQ in practiceDistinguishing bipolar from unipolar depressionLesson 4Sleep, appetite, weight, and energy inquiry with circadian and chronotype probesThis part covers careful questions on sleep, appetite, weight, and energy. It stresses body clock rhythms, sleep types, shift work, and sleep habits, linking patterns to mood, worry, and medical issues to help with treatment plans.
Sleep onset, maintenance, and early awakeningNightmares, parasomnias, and sleep qualityAppetite, weight change, and eating patternsDaytime fatigue, anergia, and overactivityChronotype, shift work, and social jetlagLesson 5Psychotic symptoms and differential detection: hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder probesThis part builds skills for spotting psychotic symptoms. It covers hallucinations, delusions, thought problems, negative symptoms, and awareness, using gentle questions and extra information to tell psychosis apart from mood or cultural matters.
Probing hallucinations across sensory modalitiesExploring delusional themes and convictionAssessing thought form and disorganizationIdentifying negative and cognitive symptomsDifferentiating psychosis from culture or traumaLesson 6Substance use history: structured questions (CAGE, AUDIT-C), timeline follow-back, patterns and collateral verificationThis part organises taking substance use history, including alcohol, drugs, and prescribed medicines. It teaches using CAGE and AUDIT-C, timeline review, spotting patterns, withdrawal dangers, and checking with others to make information more accurate.
Opening nonjudgmental substance questionsUsing CAGE and AUDIT-C effectivelyTimeline follow-back for quantity and frequencyIdentifying withdrawal and overdose risksCollateral and records for substance historyLesson 7Core mood assessment questions and use of validated scales (PHQ-9, HAM-D) with interpretationThis part focuses on key mood assessment questions and trusted scales. You will use PHQ-9 and HAM-D, explore mood, loss of joy, guilt, and body symptoms, and explain scores in context to guide diagnosis and treatment progress.
Open-ended mood and anhedonia questionsExploring guilt, hopelessness, and worthlessnessAdministering and scoring the PHQ-9Using the HAM-D in clinical settingsTracking treatment response over timeLesson 8Assessment of anxiety, panic, and agitation: targeted questions and screening tools (GAD-7, PHQ-A items)This part gives detailed questions for anxiety, panic, and restlessness. You will practise GAD-7 and PHQ-A items, tell worry from panic, check impairment, and use scale scores in clinical choices.
Openers for anxiety and worry narrativesCharacterizing panic attacks and triggersScreening with GAD-7: items and scoringUsing PHQ-A anxiety items in adolescentsAssessing agitation, restlessness, and distressLesson 9Risk assessment: suicidal ideation, intent, plan, means, preparatory behaviour, protective factors, and safety planningThis part guides proper checks for suicide and violence risk. It covers thoughts, intent, plans, means, preparation, past tries, protective factors, sudden stresses, and working together on safety plans, including key documentation.
Eliciting suicidal thoughts and communicationAssessing intent, plan, means, and accessReviewing past attempts and self-harm historyIdentifying risk and protective factorsDeveloping and documenting safety plansLesson 10Collateral information gathering: when to contact family, primary care, employers, and how to request records legally and usefullyThis part explains when and how to get extra information from family, primary care, employers, and others. It stresses agreement, privacy rules, focused questions, record requests, and adding extra data to the clinical plan.
Indications for seeking collateral inputObtaining consent and explaining purposeFocused questions for family and caregiversRequesting and reviewing medical recordsReconciling conflicting collateral reports
