What's Your Diagnosis?

In What's Your Diagnosis?, learners are placed directly "in session" with patients, offering a straightforward approach to test diagnostic skills. This method presents the patient's story without flashbacks, added scenes, or text, enabling students to assess their knowledge of the DSM criteria for disorders or engage in 'caseload' assessment exercises.

  • Aliyah has worked hard to be a success in nearly every aspect of her life. She has a thriving business and is thrilled with her children, and she even has some pride from her divorces, which she benefitted from financially. She arrives for therapy because what she believes to be a "perfect" existence is starting to show some cracks. Her son is concerned she is not reacting well to the stresses of her life, her daughter has become uncooperative when it comes to Aliyah's suggestions she loses some weight, and she is having problems at work, including a potentially explosive incident with an employee. Aliyah's reality and her perceptions of reality are on full display in this video. Viewers are given an unfiltered look at her therapy session, as she speaks and enacts behaviors that, when observed, provide a better understanding of who she is and how she feels.  
  • After finding academic and personal success throughout high school and college, Alexis hit the ground running, ready to build a life for herself. Recently, though, she has been struggling with the return of a problem she suffered through in childhood: nightmares. She recalls being tormented by them growing up, but they were scarce during recent years, making her believe she had reached a "normal" level. Over the last year, they have become frequent and intense, making her afraid to go to sleep and potentially putting a strain on her romantic relationship. As the viewer listens to Alexis speak about her condition and the impact it is having on her, they are able to observe her as she honestly and desperately searches for answers and release from her condition. It is up to the viewer to put together the clues and figure out a diagnosis for her.  
  • Neal has arrived for therapy looking for help dealing with his obsessive focus on germs and cleanliness. He notes that his behaviors have made his life more difficult and has isolated him from others, but he strongly believes he has to be vigilant against the unseen dangers surrounding him. As he describes his thoughts and feelings to the therapist, viewers are able to observe him and the way he presents himself. Through those observations, conclusions about his potential diagnosis can be formed.  
  • Jasmine has come to therapy at the request of her supervisor, who recognized a compulsive need to review and revise every detail of every project, to the point that she has consistently missed deadlines and upset clients. Jasmine's explanation is that she doesn?t see it that way. What good would her work product be if it isn?t absolutely, rigorously completed and cross-checked every possible way. She finds it exhausting, and because of her devotion to work she does not have many friends or a social life. She explains that her one real friend, Gwen, actually makes her feel ill by how she wastes money. Jasmine does not understand why others are not as frugal or detail-oriented as she is, and she is concerned she will continue to pay the price for it. By observing and making note of Jasmine's expressions, mannerisms, and speech, viewers can decipher clues to decide what her diagnosis may be.  
  • During her therapy session, Dana explains how her behavior and nature has become significantly more disruptive and confrontational during the current school year. The viewers observes as she reports on the incidents that led her to therapy and take note of the symptoms on display. As Dana interacts and responds to the therapist, information and clues to her disorder are revealed so the viewer can make their own diagnosis.  
  • Dennis has presented for therapy after going to the hospital for what he believed to be a heart attack, but was actually caused by severe emotional distress. He explains that he once considered himself to be a rather laid back, unexciteable type, but over time, he developed a sense of fear, uncertainty, and doubt about his life and his ability to cope with factors beyond his control. Viewers are invited directly into the therapy session and asked to observe Dennis' responses and mannerisms. Through these observations, clues about his condition can be revealed and a potential diagnosis can be discovered.  
  • Lou has long been distrustful of those around you, believing that even your friends and family are just using you and waiting to betray you. As he grew older, this distrust has grown and he is now constantly guarded. It is affecting his work and is threatening his marriage. As the viewer watches Lou tell his story, his symptoms and behaviors are exposed through his actions and his words. The learner shares the room with Lou, observing his approach to the conversation and looking for clues to his diagnosis.  
  • Lucas has a dark secret that could destroy his entire existence, and he has been struggling for years to keep it secret and to keep himself from hurting others because of it. Despite all indications that he is a "normal" dependable man, Lucas has a strong sexual attraction to prepubescent children. He has managed to control his thoughts and has never pursued actual sex with a child, but he the attraction is strong and has to resort to slightly less-problematic, but still illegal, immoral means to satisfy his urges. As a result, he was recently arrested for possession of child pornography. As viewers observe Lucas in his most honest state, they see the conflicts and deep disturbances that control his mind. It is obvious that Lucas knows his urges are bad and can hurt other people greatly, but he also feels like he is the victim of a society that refuses to understand him.  
  • At her therapy session, Amrita, explains that she has never had a particularly high opinion of herself and has never truly been happy. Her childhood was full of shame and, as she matured, she continued experiencing low-mood and feelings of worthlessness. As viewers listen to her explanations and observe her mannerisms, they gain insight into the progression of her condition. Her description of the breakup of her relationship and her fear over the uncertainty of her future and that of her child hold clues to her condition which you'll need to make your diagnosis.  
  • Maria arrives for therapy following a harrowing incident where she was attacked by a man with a knife. Though physically unharmed, she reports having extreme symptoms and unmanageable fear as a result of the encounter. As she speaks to the therapist about how things have changed for her since the attack, she displays mannerisms and behaviors that provide viewers with clues to decipher her potential diagnosis.  
  • Dan sees himself as a broken, sad man who has given up any sense of control over his life. Since losing his partner a few years ago, he has had no interruptions in his mourning, and thinks about the loss of his loved one nearly every moment of every day. He does not feel he is making any progress toward leading a ?normal? life or moving on, and he believes all other problems and responsibilities are unimportant in comparison to his feelings about the loss of his husband.  
  • Paulina has come for therapy out of fear that the horrible symptoms she previously experienced might come back. She explains that after a lifetime of normalcy, she began experiencing significant emotional disturbances, which progressed to a point where she was having delusional thoughts and hallucinations. Eventually, the symptoms ceased, but she believes they will be back. By observing Paulina's therapy session directly, viewers are given an opportunity to hear her story, consider her words, and look for clues in her behavior that may indicate a potential diagnosis.  
  • Malcolm has grown up in privilege and has grown to be inconsiderate and unthinking about the needs and feelings of others. His mother, in particular, has become annoying to him, as he finds her to be needy and clingy. Malcolm just wants to be left alone. As the viewer witnesses the therapy session first-hand, the specifics of Malcolm's behaviors and thoughts become clear, including details like his flat and affectless speech and his lack of interest in sex or personal relationships. The learner is given an opportunity to use these details to detect symptoms and apply them to making a diagnosis.  
  • Tyler presents for therapy in the midst of a mental crisis. He has began hearing voices in his head that inform him about conspiracies and deceptions happening around him and in his life. He believes what he is hearing to be true and explains how it has informed his actions and his thoughts. Tyler reports that he no longer maintains relationships with others and has allowed his delusions to take over. As the viewer watches the video, they observe Tyler's verbal and non-verbal behaviors that they can use to make a diagnosis.  
  • Sheryl is pursuing therapy to get answers about why she suddenly lost control of her emotional and mental state recently, resulting in 43 days of confusion, instability, and hallucination. During that time, she was unable to speak clearly or think in a logical manner, and she isolated herself completely from others. She goes on to explain that, since the symptoms ceased, she is now dealing with tremendous anxiety, as she worries about the condition returning. In observing Sheryl's mannerisms and considering her speech, viewers are able to find clues to decide what her diagnosis could be.  
  • Ken is considered a bit of a loner, and he has chosen this way of life due to a general distrust of other people. He believes he has an exceptional ability to sense what others are thinking and feeling, and he presents himself as odd to others in how he dresses and speaks. He does not have friends, and the few times he has been on dates, he was incredibly uncomfortable. Recently, he has neglected his relationship with his sister, who was his last real connection with another person, and his "premonitions" have become more frequent and have taken the form of mild hallucinations. As viewers observe Ken's therapy session, they are met with a number of explicit and implicit clues to his potential diagnosis. Details from his speech and behaviors provide clues to what disorder he is struggling with.  
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