Lesson 1Medical and medication history: thyroid, anaemia, neurologic symptoms, medication/substance interactions, and red-flag conditionsThis part lays out how to take medical and medication history that's key for psychiatry. It points out thyroid issues, anaemia, neurologic and autoimmune signs, current meds, 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 shows how to check functioning in work, school, home, and social life. It covers daily activities, tougher tasks, thinking skills, missing work, being there but not sharp, and role performance, linking 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 you to check for bipolar spectrum disorders. It goes over past hypomanic and manic signs, how long they lasted, their effects, mixed features, and using the MDQ, while watching out for common mistakes 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 asking about sleep, appetite, weight, and energy in a proper way. It stresses body clock rhythms, sleep types, shift work, and sleep habits, connecting patterns to mood, worry, and health issues for better 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 issues, negative signs, and awareness, using gentle questions and extra info 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 sets up substance use history taking, covering alcohol, drugs, and prescribed meds. It teaches using CAGE and AUDIT-C, timeline tracking, spotting patterns, withdrawal dangers, and checking with others for better accuracy.
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 questions and trusted scales. You'll use PHQ-9 and HAM-D, look into mood, loss of joy, guilt, and body symptoms, and make sense of scores 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 details questions for anxiety, panic, and restlessness. You'll practice GAD-7 and PHQ-A items, tell worry from panic, check impact, and use scale scores for smart 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 behavior, protective factors, and safety planningThis part guides proper checks for suicide and violence risk. It covers thoughts, intent, plans, access, prep acts, past tries, supports, big stresses, and team safety planning, plus 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 info from family, primary care, bosses, and others. It stresses agreement, privacy rules, good questions, record requests, and weaving that info into your clinical summary.
Indications for seeking collateral inputObtaining consent and explaining purposeFocused questions for family and caregiversRequesting and reviewing medical recordsReconciling conflicting collateral reports
