Lesson 1Medical and medication history: thyroid, anaemia, neurological signs, medication/substance clashes, and urgent conditionsThis part organises taking medical and medication histories important for mental health work. It spotlights thyroid issues, anaemia, neurological and immune signs, current meds, clashes, substances, and urgent conditions needing 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: work, social, thinking skills, daily activities, and job performance questionsThis part teaches checking daily functioning in work, school, home, and social areas. It includes basic daily tasks, complex chores, thinking ability, time off work, on-job struggles, and role duties, 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 high-energy/low-energy episodes, length, effects, and tools (MDQ)This part trains spotting bipolar spectrum issues. It covers past high and manic signs, how long they lasted, their effects, mixed signs, and MDQ use, noting common errors 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 checks with body clock and sleep type questionsThis part covers thorough checks on sleep, eating, weight, and energy. It stresses body clock rhythms, sleep types, shift work, and sleep habits, linking 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 signs and sorting them out: hearing/seeing things, false beliefs, thought jumble checksThis part builds skills for spotting psychotic signs. It includes hearing/seeing things, false beliefs, thought issues, low energy signs, and awareness, using gentle questions and family info to separate psychosis 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: set questions (CAGE, AUDIT-C), timeline recall, patterns and family checksThis part organises substance history taking for alcohol, drugs, and prescribed meds. It teaches CAGE and AUDIT-C, timeline recall, pattern spotting, withdrawal dangers, and family checks 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 7Main mood check questions and standard scales (PHQ-9, HAM-D) with explanationsThis part focuses on key mood questions and trusted scales. You'll use PHQ-9 and HAM-D, explore mood, joy loss, guilt, and body signs, and explain scores in context for diagnosis and treatment tracking.
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 8Checking worry, panic, and restlessness: aimed questions and tools (GAD-7, PHQ-A items)This part details targeted questions for worry, panic, and restlessness. Practise GAD-7 and PHQ-A, sort worry from panic, check daily impacts, and use scores for care 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 checks: self-harm thoughts, plans, access, actions, supports, and safety plansThis part guides structured checks for self-harm and harm-to-others risks. Covers thoughts, plans, access, past tries, supports, stresses, and joint safety plans with key record-keeping.
Eliciting suicidal thoughts and communicationAssessing intent, plan, means, and accessReviewing past attempts and self-harm historyIdentifying risk and protective factorsDeveloping and documenting safety plansLesson 10Gathering extra info: when to reach family, clinics, bosses, and legal record requestsThis part explains when and how to get extra info from family, clinics, bosses, others. Stresses agreement, privacy rules, key questions, record asks, and blending info into patient summaries.
Indications for seeking collateral inputObtaining consent and explaining purposeFocused questions for family and caregiversRequesting and reviewing medical recordsReconciling conflicting collateral reports
