Lesson 1Comprehensive clinical history: psychiatric history, medical history, family psychiatric history, developmental and trauma screeningHere we learn how to gather full patient stories, covering mind health, body health, family mind issues, growth stages, and past harms, then sort it to spot weaknesses, strengths, and what keeps anxiety going in everyday life.
Documenting past psychiatric diagnoses and careMedical history, pain, and chronic illness impactFamily psychiatric history and genetic loadingDevelopmental milestones and attachment patternsTrauma exposure, timing, and current impactLesson 2Structured diagnostic instruments and symptom scales: GAD-7, PDSS, SP-specific measures, PHQ-9, OCD and PTSD screenersWe go over main tools for measuring anxiety and mixed signs, like GAD-7, PDSS, scales for social fears and specific terrors, PHQ-9, plus checks for OCD and PTSD, with tips on picking, scoring, and fitting into clinic work.
Choosing appropriate anxiety rating instrumentsAdministering and scoring the GAD-7 and PDSSSocial anxiety and specific phobia measuresUsing PHQ-9 for depressive comorbidityBrief OCD and PTSD screening toolsLesson 3Formulating working diagnoses: documenting primary, secondary, and rule-out diagnoses with evidence-based justificationClinicians learn to pull data together into solid working diagnoses, sorting main from side issues and possibles, backing each with proof from standards, timelines, and daily life struggles.
Differentiating primary and secondary anxiety disordersUsing timelines to link onset, triggers, and courseRule-out diagnoses and provisional formulationsDocumenting evidence supporting each diagnosisRevising diagnoses as new data emergeLesson 4Substance, sleep, and lifestyle assessment: caffeine, alcohol, sleep patterns, exercise and their impact on anxietyWe check substances, rest, and daily habits affecting anxiety, like coffee, drink, sleep ways, body work, and screens, then weave habit changes into the healing plan.
Evaluating caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and sedativesAssessing sleep patterns, insomnia, and circadian issuesExploring exercise, movement, and sedentary behaviorScreen time, social media, and arousal regulationMotivational strategies for lifestyle modificationLesson 5Applying DSM-5-TR/ICD-11 diagnostic criteria: mapping Laura’s symptoms to specific phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder with differential diagnosisSee how to use DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 rules on tough anxiety cases, like Laura's, matching signs to specific fears, panic attacks, and constant worry, while sorting true from false.
Reviewing DSM-5-TR anxiety disorder criteriaKey ICD-11 distinctions for anxiety diagnosesMapping Laura’s symptoms to specific phobiaIdentifying panic disorder and agoraphobic featuresDifferentiating GAD from other anxiety conditionsLesson 6Medication and medical screening coordination: when to request medical evaluation, relevant labs and cardiac/neurological red flagsWork with doctors to rule out body causes of anxiety, know when tests or scans needed, spot heart, hormone, brain warnings needing quick doctor care.
Identifying medical conditions that mimic anxietyKey labs and tests for anxiety-related complaintsCardiac and neurological red flag symptomsReviewing current medications and side effectsCommunicating findings with prescribers and PCPsLesson 7Cultural, gender, and occupational factors: assessing work stressors, commuting context, and cultural beliefs about anxiety and help-seekingLook at how community ways, man-woman differences, job pressures shape anxiety shows, seeking aid, risks; check work strains, travel troubles, bias, local views on signs.
Exploring cultural beliefs about anxiety and stigmaGendered patterns in symptom expression and rolesAssessing job demands, control, and job insecurityCommuting, shift work, and environmental stressorsAddressing discrimination, bias, and marginalizationLesson 8Risk assessment and safety planning: suicidality, self-harm, harm to others, and acute medical risksStep-by-step checks for self-end risk, self-hurt, hurt to folks, sudden body dangers; make real team safety maps with aids, watches, crisis steps.
Screening for suicidality and self-harm behaviorsAssessing risk of harm to others and violence historyIdentifying acute medical and withdrawal red flagsDeveloping and documenting safety plansCoordinating with emergency and crisis servicesLesson 9Setting assessment-linked treatment priorities and measurable baseline outcomesTurn check findings into clear healing goals and starting measures, matching client ways, sign strength, daily blocks across mixed anxieties.
Ranking target anxiety disorders and key symptomsDefining functional and quality-of-life treatment goalsSelecting symptom and functioning baseline metricsCollaborative goal-setting and expectation managementLesson 10Initial session data collection: presenting complaint, symptom timeline, trigger mapping, severity and functional impairmentBest ways for first meet: get main worry, sign history, spark maps, safety acts, rate strength and life blocks in home, work, people areas.
Clarifying the client’s presenting problems and goalsBuilding a detailed symptom and onset timelineIdentifying triggers, cues, and safety behaviorsRating severity, distress, and daily impairmentSummarizing initial case formulation with client
