Diagnosing a client within the short window of an intake assessment is not simple. The DSM-5-TR runs past 1100 pages, the options are many, and many symptoms appear in several diagnoses, which makes telling them apart complicated. Clinicians often put a lot of pressure on themselves to get it “right.” Clients also arrive telling us their diagnoses, whether given by a previous provider or self-diagnosed. We want an accurate clinical conclusion, and insurance requires a diagnosis for billing.
This training aims to build your confidence in diagnosing and ease some of that pressure. It offers quick things to look for when separating common diagnoses that overlap, and it looks at special populations for whom certain diagnoses come up often so you can steer toward the right treatment plan. You will also practice asking questions that narrow your diagnostic choices.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to
- Examine the similarities and differences between common diagnoses.
- Explore how they present in different settings and populations.
- Discuss ways to elicit information crucial to your diagnosis.
Syllabus:
Introduction
Objective 1: F.I.D.O.-a quantifying tool for symptoms
- Defining F.I.D.O.
- All four components of F.I.D.O. are required to determine if a diagnosis is present
Objective 2: Examining trauma
- Trauma can masquerade as other diagnoses
- The pair of ACEs
- Trauma and Mood
Objective 3: Exploring some adult diagnoses
- Mood instability
- Psychosis
- Personality disorders
Objective 4: Exploring some childhood diagnoses
- Disruptive behaviors
- Mood instability
- Inattention
Practice scenarios
Special populations
- Preschool
- Full-service partnerships/Assertive Community Therapy
- Co-occurring disorders
- Older adults
Summary/Q&A
Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 1.5 hours of Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: AJ Tschupp, LCSW
Recording Date: March 14, 2025
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2026 - 08/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5hrs Clinical continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com