Lesson 1Functional assessment: sleep, appetite, energy, cognition, occupational functioning, social supportsThis section focuses on functional assessment domains such as sleep, appetite, energy, cognition, work or school performance, and social supports, and how functional data inform diagnosis, risk, disability, and individualised 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 section details structured risk assessment for suicidality, overdose, self-harm, aggression, and medical instability, including warning signs, protective factors, and how to translate findings into safety plans, monitoring, and level-of-care decisions.
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 3Standardised mental health screening tools: PHQ-9, GAD-7, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) — interpretation and administrationThis section explains how to administer and interpret PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, including cutoffs, cultural considerations, and how to integrate scores with clinical interviews and risk management 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 section explains how to evaluate motivation and readiness for change using stages of change, URICA, and readiness rulers, and how to integrate brief motivational interviewing techniques into dual diagnosis assessments and care planning.
Applying the stages of change modelUsing URICA in dual diagnosis careReadiness rulers in brief assessmentsIntegrating motivational interviewing skillsDocumenting motivation and treatment goalsLesson 5Standardised substance use screening tools: AUDIT, DAST-10, ASSIST — choosing and interpreting for alcohol and cocaineThis section introduces AUDIT, DAST-10, and ASSIST, with guidance on selecting tools for alcohol and cocaine, scoring and interpreting results, recognising limitations, and integrating findings with clinical interviews and diagnostic criteria.
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 section outlines how to conduct a comprehensive biopsychosocial history, including detailed substance use timelines, mental health and medical histories, trauma, legal and occupational issues, and how to synthesise these data into a dual diagnosis case formulation.
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 section reviews key medical and laboratory assessments in dual diagnosis, including vital signs, ECG indications, urine drug screens, liver tests, pregnancy testing, and metabolic screening, and how results guide safety, detox, and medication decisions.
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 section covers how to obtain and integrate collateral information from family, employers, records, and multidisciplinary team members, while respecting confidentiality, consent, and cultural factors to build a more accurate dual diagnosis formulation.
Obtaining informed consent for collateralFamily perspectives on symptoms and useUsing employer and occupational reportsReviewing police and medical recordsCoordinating with multidisciplinary teams
