Diagnostic Case Studies

Demonstrate your competency with our interactive educational diagnostic case studies, which serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that clinical practitioner uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession. The content at Genius Academy has been thoroughly reviewed and vetted by top professionals in the field. Easily gain up to 8.5 hours AMA PRA Category 1 hour of your license requirements through our unique narrative pedagogy approach.

  • Brent has been brought to therapy to discuss his increasingly problematic behavior in school and at home. He reports he is proud of the trouble he causes and believes he is justified in his actions. As viewers watch him share his incidents, including starting fires, getting in fights, and petty theft, they observe behaviors and tendencies that can lead them to establish a diagnosis.  
  • Sean presents for therapy looking for help with his temper. He has allowed his anger and frustration to take over, and he is aware of the negative impact it has had on his life and his relationships. He explains that he actively looks to create conflict when he feels disrespected, and he often finds himself feeling victimized by others. These are all clues the viewer can use to provide a potential diagnosis of Sean's disorder.  
  • 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.  
  • 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..  
  • 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 in every possible way? She finds it exhausting, and because of her devotion to work, she does not have many friends or 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 notes of Jasmine's expressions, mannerisms, and speech, viewers can decipher clues to decide what her diagnosis may be.  
  • Aaron is by all accounts a likable, well-mannered man, but he has an unreasonable fear that interferes with a number of areas of living. He recognizes it is irrational, but he is powerless against it. As the learner observes Aaron explain the issues, they are able to see his anxiety and emotional troubles manifest in his approach to therapy. He is obviously desperate and ashamed.  
  • 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.  
  • 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.  
  • 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.  
  • 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 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.  
  • Rishi has presented for therapy to look at the issues that have led to recent professional and personal setbacks. He explains how he quickly lost confidence in himself after moving to a new city and starting a new job. He reports that he was once a more-focused, capable individual, but now he cannot think of anything other than the worst-case scenario. Rishi's thoughts, mannerisms, and words provide viewers with clues into his condition and potential diagnosis.  
  • Carl was abandoned by his mother at age seven and now lives with his grandmothe. He was severely impacted by this, but his grandmother actually noticed odd behaviors and actions he enacted even before that. He explains that as young as 4 years old, he was blinking frequently and often made jerky movements with his head or his shoulder. Hoping he would just grow out of it, there was no significant intervention. As he grew older, the disturbances became more significant and included unwanted speech and verbal explosions. In this video, learners are given the opportunity to observe Carl and his behaviors right before their eyes. His explanation of the development of the condition and his unprovoked on-screen movements and statements provide insight into his potential diagnosis.  
  • Everyone says Teri is just shy, but she thinks there's more to it than that. She finds herself to be less than other people, as she is socially inept and generally unappealing in her mind, so she is incredibly uncomfortable around other people and in social situations. She actively avoids scenarios she thinks she will be judged or embarrassed by, which includes turning down a promotion at work because she is terrified she will fail and be exposed. She wants success and love and everything else life has to offer, but she still chooses to be safe and comfortable by herself. As Teri describes her thoughts and feelings, the viewer sees the reality of how she feels. This raw look at her therapy session allows learners to put themselves in the shoes of her therapist, searching for clues and indications of the truth within Teri's words and behaviors.  
  • Angela puts a lot of effort into being a good friend, good girlfriend, and a good person, but she doesn't feel she gets the appreciation she deserves to the point where she feels as if she is being cruelly abused by others. In her recollection, every time she becomes close with someone, they ultimately hurt her or distance themselves from her. She has been told that it is hard to be around her because she is so intense with her love and affection, but she does not understand how that is possible. As viewers watch her session, they are witness to her speech and behavioral patterns, each revealing a little more about her and her condition. Through direct observation, symptoms and clues to her diagnosis are revealed.  
  • 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.  
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