Classroom Course » Playing Mind Detective: Forging the Alliance Between Assessment, Diagnosis & Treatment

This course outlines a comprehensive assessment methodology which integrates mental status evaluation, clinical and psycho-social history as a central "detective"tool in arriving at the proper diagnosis of clients. The training will highlight some of the common errors in doing clinical assessment, by offering insights regarding the complexity of understanding symptom presentation. Included is recognizing how proper assessment can lead to the most effective treatment and intervention strategies.   It provided instruction on proper diagnostic procedure and guidance on how to make differential diagnosis.

1. Describe and discuss common errors in assessing and diagnosing mental disorders

2. Explain and analyze the methods and procedures in conducting mental status evaluations.

3. Discuss and explain the critical role of clinical and psycho-social histories in identifying and diagnosing mental disorders.

4. Analyze and employ the diagnostic hierarchy in clinical decision making of differential diagnosis

5. Clarify and apply the rule of parsimony in clinical diagnosis

6. Explain and utilize the general principles that underlay the making of dual and multiple diagnoses

7. Describe and explain how accurate assessment and diagnosis lead to proper treatment planning and selection of treatment approaches.

Social workers, case managers, and other mental health, behavioral health professionals, substance abuse counselors, other healthcare professionals and educators.