PSY 510 CASE STUDY REVIEW AND
SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ level 3 Answer: - Construct a Differential Diagnosis
** Differential diagnosis is just a collective term for all the disorders
you think that a patient could have**
- Overlook NO possibility, however unlikely, so at first look for all
possibilities
◉ level 4 Answer: Select the most likely provisional diagnosis for
further evaluation and treatment
◉ level 5 Answer: - Identify other diagnoses that could be comorbid
(coexist) with your principal diagnosis
- Arrange multiple diagnoses according to the urgency of their need
for treatment
◉ level 6 Answer: Write a formulation as a check on your evaluation
** This brief statement of your patient summarizes your findings
and conclusions **
◉ level 7 Answer: reevaluate diagnosis
,◉ getting diagnosis started Answer: Sources of Information
- From whom do we get information about the Client?
• Symptoms
- What Patients Complain About
• Signs
- What Clinicians Notice
• Signs & Symptoms Interact
◉ syndrome(s) Answer: - Rapidity of onset
- Age of onset
- Occurrence of precipitants- History of previous episodes
- Duration of Current episode
- Extent 0f Disruption of Social Life
- Impact on person's Functioning (Level of Impairment)
◉ diagnosis hierarchy Answer: TOP, Conditions that most Urgently
Need Treatment & May Respond Well to Treatment
- Disorders Due to Medical Conditions & Substance Abuse
, BOTTOM, Conditions that Seem Unlikely to Help
MIDDLE, everything else. Sift Systemically Through All the Possible
Alternatives
◉ conflicting info sources Answer: - history more important than
the current appearance of the ind
- recent history > older history
- collateral history may be more important
- crisis may impact life experiences
- objective findings > subjective judgements
- family history is useful
- preferred diagnosis is often the one that provides the simplest
explanation to the condition
- diagnosis are often the common ones vs the uncommon ones
◉ differential diagnosis illustration Answer: 1. medical or substance
abuse
2. what is the it's complaint?
3. review family history of mental health
4. what can you eliminate (possible diagnosis)
5. consider personality disorders
6. mental status exam (MSE)
SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ level 3 Answer: - Construct a Differential Diagnosis
** Differential diagnosis is just a collective term for all the disorders
you think that a patient could have**
- Overlook NO possibility, however unlikely, so at first look for all
possibilities
◉ level 4 Answer: Select the most likely provisional diagnosis for
further evaluation and treatment
◉ level 5 Answer: - Identify other diagnoses that could be comorbid
(coexist) with your principal diagnosis
- Arrange multiple diagnoses according to the urgency of their need
for treatment
◉ level 6 Answer: Write a formulation as a check on your evaluation
** This brief statement of your patient summarizes your findings
and conclusions **
◉ level 7 Answer: reevaluate diagnosis
,◉ getting diagnosis started Answer: Sources of Information
- From whom do we get information about the Client?
• Symptoms
- What Patients Complain About
• Signs
- What Clinicians Notice
• Signs & Symptoms Interact
◉ syndrome(s) Answer: - Rapidity of onset
- Age of onset
- Occurrence of precipitants- History of previous episodes
- Duration of Current episode
- Extent 0f Disruption of Social Life
- Impact on person's Functioning (Level of Impairment)
◉ diagnosis hierarchy Answer: TOP, Conditions that most Urgently
Need Treatment & May Respond Well to Treatment
- Disorders Due to Medical Conditions & Substance Abuse
, BOTTOM, Conditions that Seem Unlikely to Help
MIDDLE, everything else. Sift Systemically Through All the Possible
Alternatives
◉ conflicting info sources Answer: - history more important than
the current appearance of the ind
- recent history > older history
- collateral history may be more important
- crisis may impact life experiences
- objective findings > subjective judgements
- family history is useful
- preferred diagnosis is often the one that provides the simplest
explanation to the condition
- diagnosis are often the common ones vs the uncommon ones
◉ differential diagnosis illustration Answer: 1. medical or substance
abuse
2. what is the it's complaint?
3. review family history of mental health
4. what can you eliminate (possible diagnosis)
5. consider personality disorders
6. mental status exam (MSE)
