Lesson 1Comprehensive clinical history: psychiatric history, medical history, family psychiatric history, developmental and trauma screeningHere we explain how to gather a full clinical history covering mental health, physical health, family mental health, growth stages, and trauma checks, then sort it to spot what makes anxiety worse or better.
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 look at main tools for checking anxiety and related issues like GAD-7, PDSS, scales for social anxiety and specific fears, PHQ-9, plus checks for OCD and PTSD, with tips on choosing, scoring, and using them in practice.
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 justificationLearn to pull together info into solid working diagnoses, sorting main from supporting ones and possibles, backing each with proof from standards, timelines, and how it affects daily life.
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 cover checking substances, sleep, and daily habits that affect anxiety like caffeine, alcohol, sleep routines, exercise, and screen time, and how to weave habit changes into the treatment 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 tricky anxiety cases, using Laura's example to match symptoms to specific fears, panic attacks, and general worry, while sorting out differences.
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 flagsFocus on working with doctors to rule out health causes of anxiety, knowing when to get tests or scans, and spotting urgent heart, hormone, or nerve warning signs needing quick medical checks.
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-seekingWe explore how culture, gender, and job situations shape anxiety, seeking help, and risks, with ways to check work stress, travel challenges, bias, and local views on symptoms.
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 risksGet structured ways to check suicide risk, self-harm, harm to others, and sudden health worries, plus how to make practical safety plans with support, checks, and emergency steps together.
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 outcomesLearn to turn assessment results into clear treatment focuses and starting measures, matching goals to client values, symptom strength, and life impacts across mixed anxiety issues.
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 the first meeting: get the main issue, build a symptom history, map triggers and safety habits, rate strength and life effects across 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
