About The Course
Advance your clinical skills of Complex Mood Disorders through expert-led modules designed for mental health professionals—including psychiatrists, psychologists, general practitioners, and allied health professionals. This curriculum offers diagnostic clarity and management strategies for melancholic, psychotic, and mixed-feature depression. Emphasising evidence-based depression treatment, it integrates clinical features, diagnostic tools, and case-based learning to improve decision-making and therapeutic outcomes in complex and high-risk presentations.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable for:
- Psychiatrists
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MHNPs)
- Psychologists
- Mental health professionals
- Clinicians working in or expanding into psychiatry and mental health care
Accreditation Information:
- Psychiatry Accreditation: This course is available for self-accreditation with the RANZCP and other relevant psychiatric and mental health organisations.
- GP Accreditation: The course is also RACGP accredited for general practitioners.
What You'll Learn
- Explain the clinical features and impact of melancholic depression and psychotic depression
- Identify how to correctly diagnose both conditions
- Discuss different treatment and management options
- Discuss practical management through case studies
- Identify how to correctly diagnose patients with major depressive disorder with mixed features (DMX)
- Consider clinical implications for DMX
- Discuss management strategies for patients
Course Programme
13 Units | 45 Modules | 5 hours total length
- Categorisation Of Mood Disorders According to Severity
- DSM-5 and ICD-10/ICD-11
- Types of Depression
- Classifications of Depressive Disorders
- Symptoms of Depression
- Anatomical Localisation of Depressive Symptoms
- Diagnostic Tool for Depression
- Key Features
- Neurobiology
- Symptoms
- Diagnostic Tools
- Red Flags
- Diagnostic Interview
- Collateral History
- Case Studies
- Managing Melancholic Depression (Non-Psychotic Features)
- Melancholic Depression Medication Duration
- Managing Psychotic Depression
- Current Treatment Options
- Underrecognition of Psychotic Depression
- Psychotic Depression Medication Duration
- Case Studies
- DMX in Children and Adolescence
- Types of Mixed States
- Mixed States in ICD-11
- Red Flags for DMX
- Diagnostic Criteria and Tools
- MDD and Mixed Features Specifier
- Alternative Diagnostic Perspective
- Most Common Symptoms
- Koukopoulos Criteria
- Case Study
- First DMX Management Perspective
- General Management Principles
- Management Steps and Treatment Options From Stahl et al
- Treatment Options
- Algorithm for the Management of DMX
- Second DMX Management Perspective: RANZCP Guidelines
- Maintenance Therapy
- Psychological Treatments
- Recommendations by Fagioloni and Cuomo
- Summary of Pharmacological Therapy in DMX
- Lumateperone in Patients With Bipolar Depression With Mixed Features
- Case Study
- Knowledge Check
Course Description
Complex Mood Disorders: Diagnostic Precision and Advanced Management
Complex Mood Disorders: Diagnostic Precision and Advanced Management is a CPD-accredited curriculum designed for mental health professionals—including psychiatrists, psychologists, general practitioners, and allied health professionals—who seek to enhance their expertise in identifying and treating complex mood depressive conditions. Upon completion, participants will receive 5 CPD hours (EA-4, RP-1).
Integrated Learning Across Two Advanced Modules
Structured across two expert-led courses, this curriculum combines Melancholic and Psychotic Depression: A Practical Guide and Major Depressive Disorder with Mixed Features: A Practical Guide. It is delivered through evidence-based depression treatment frameworks, integrating theory with clinical application to support effective decision-making in high-risk patient populations.
In addition, participants will engage with clinical case studies, gain exposure to validated diagnostic tools, and apply structured strategies to distinguish complex mood disorders from other depressive subtypes. Through active learning, including a final quiz to consolidate knowledge, clinicians will refine their understanding of both established and emerging therapeutic interventions.
Melancholic and Psychotic Depression: Core Insights
Melancholic and Psychotic Depression: A Practical Guide provides a comprehensive overview of two of the most severe forms of depression. It examines their distinct clinical features, neurobiology, and impact. In addition, the modules equip participants with diagnostic frameworks and practical tools to differentiate melancholic and psychotic depression from other severe depressive states.
Furthermore, it explores evidence-based depression treatment approaches, including pharmacological and psychotherapeutic options, while addressing suicide risk and practical management through real-world case studies.
Major Depressive Disorder with Mixed Features: Diagnostic Complexity
Major Depressive Disorder with Mixed Features: A Practical Guide focuses on a commonly misdiagnosed subtype of depression. Participants will not only explore the pathophysiology and diagnostic complexity of mixed-feature depression using structured criteria such as the Koukopoulos Criteria, but also gain practical tools for real-world assessment.
In addition, the course explores presentations across age groups are considered, alongside therapeutic strategies that include traditional approaches and emerging treatments. By integrating case studies, this module reinforces the application of best practices in managing complex mood disorders with mixed presentations.
Key Learning Outcomes
By completing this curriculum, participants will:
- Strengthen diagnostic accuracy for severe and atypical depressive conditions
- Apply validated tools to assess the clinical features of mood disorders
- Integrate evidence-based depression treatment strategies in high-risk cases
- Improve clinical confidence through real-world case-based learning
- Consolidate knowledge through interactive learning and quizzes
Enhance your diagnostic precision and therapeutic impact through this focused curriculum on complex mood disorders. Enrol now to elevate your clinical practice and deliver more targeted, effective care to patients facing complex depressive presentations.
While our Academy members enjoy exclusive access to a range of courses and webinars (including this course) with their annual membership, we’re pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase this course individually!
Please click on the respective links to take advantage of this offer, or scroll down to the pricing section.
For Psychiatrists: Complex Mood Disorders Curriculum for Psychiatrists
For General Practitioners: Complex Mood Disorders Curriculum for General Practitioners (GPs)
Gain a deeper understanding of the clinical features of mood disorders and improve diagnostic accuracy with expert-led modules focused on melancholic, psychotic, and mixed-feature depressive presentations.
Course Information
- 5 hours
- 5 CPD
Inclusions
- 5 Hours of Interactive Course Material
- Video Lectures
- Case Studies
- Self-assessment
- Certificate of Completion
Material Downloads
- certificate
Instructor
Dr. Sanil Rege MBBS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
Dr Sanil Rege is an educator and consultant psychiatrist with dual psychiatry qualifications from the United Kingdom and Australia.
With extensive teaching experience through various psychiatry education initiatives, Dr. Rege is renowned as a motivational training facilitator who promotes interaction and discussion. As the Academic Lead of Psych Scene and Chief Editor of Psych Scene Hub, he aspires to make a difference in mental health by empowering healthcare professionals to advance their skills and career through specialized training.
Dr Rege is also founder of Vita Healthcare, a private clinic in Mount Eliza specialising in mental health. He has 20 years of clinical experience and 13 years of private practice experience treating disorders across the spectrum, currently working in the community, in-patient, consultation-liaison and addiction psychiatry.
