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Diagnostic Formulation in Psychiatric Practice: Clinical Strategies for Psychiatrists

Formulation Part 1_Patient History To Diagnostic Perspectives_1

★★★★★

Excellent masterclass from Dr Rege. He is both knowledgeable and practical, with a strong focus on clinical applicability.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Dr Rege is an exceptional educator. I always find his presentations engaging, insightful, and highly relevant.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Very well communicated, with excellent examples and content pitched at an appropriate clinical level.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Content is excellent as usual. The quality and relevance of the material are consistently outstanding.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Brilliant style, high-quality content, and an optimal range and integration of topics. The language used by Dr Sanil Rege was exceptionally clear.

Psychiatry Trainee

★★★★★

Excellent presentation!

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Amazing breadth of overview in a concise manner that inspires further learning.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

I truly value Dr Rege’s teaching approach. He combines deep clinical experience with exceptional educational skills. I completed his EMQ and CAP course, which proved immensely helpful—not only for exam preparation but also in enhancing my clinical practice. I highly recommend Psych Scene and Dr Rege’s lecture series to any clinician seeking both academic and practical excellence.

Psychiatry Trainee

★★★★★

Excellent presentation, very useful for trainees.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Thank you very much, Dr Sanil Rege, for a brilliant presentation on formulation and management! Highly recommend it to all psychiatry registrars!

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Dr Sanil Rege is a natural teacher whose extensive experience, particularly in exam preparation and private practice, establishes him as a leading authority in psychiatry. His formulation and management masterclass is highly recommended and well-suited for GPs, registrars, and consultant psychiatrists alike.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Outstanding as always. Implementing what I’ve learned from the Academy curriculum has led to noticeable improvements in my patients, making the course extremely valuable.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

The presentation provided current, relevant, and practical information.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

I cannot recommend this course highly enough. I have gained invaluable knowledge from every session.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Dr Sanil Rege is an amazing teacher!

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Brilliant. Personable. Delivers great ideas clearly and efficiently.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Excellent as always!

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

An excellent overview that covers a wide breadth of material in a concise format—both informative and motivating for further study.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Excellent course—well-structured content and delivered with clarity by Dr Rege.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

The masterclass demonstrated excellent knowledge and covered a wide range of clinically relevant topics.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

The course provided a solid foundation by covering essential material in depth. I'm looking forward to building on this in the upcoming parts.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

The didactic approach was well-suited to the structure and content of this presentation.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

The masterclass was overall good and informative.

Nurse Practitioner

★★★★★

Thank you, Dr Rege and Psych Scene Academy, for always providing top-quality webinars and other learning opportunities. It’s great that the Academy recognises and offers membership to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. My membership offers the opportunity to access very high-quality learning in psychiatry that is just not accessible elsewhere. The presenters, presentations and resources are the best in the field. I have recommended Psych Scene Academy to many of my colleagues who are now members or considering taking up memberships.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Highly recommend this masterclass series—one of the best learning forums in our field.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Dr. Rege makes things very relevant to clinical encounters.

Psychiatry Trainee

★★★★★

Dr Rege is a very good speaker and teacher. The quality and content of all his presentations are of a very high standard, with examples and case studies that make sense.

General Practitioner

★★★★★

The content was excellent— in-depth, very informative, and supported by useful examples.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Very informative. The content was great, and Dr Rege simplified the steps of formulation, making it more clinically relevant than just statements made, which is sometimes what is written in consultation notes.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Excellent learning experience overall!

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Excellent learning webinar learning experience overall.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

I would definitely recommend this webinar. One of the best learning forums in our field.

Psychiatry Registrar

★★★★★

Dr Rege is a very good speaker and teacher. The quality and content of all his presentations are of a very high standard, with examples and case studies that make sense.

Consultant Psychiatrist

★★★★★

Very informative session. The content was great, and the presenter simplified the steps of formulation, making it more clinically relevant than just statements made, which is sometimes what is written in consultation notes.

General Practitioner

★★★★★

The content was excellent, in-depth, and very informative and very useful examples were given. Sanil makes things very relevant to clinical encounters.

Nurse Practitioner

★★★★★

Thank you, Dr Rege and Psych Scene Academy, for always providing top-quality webinars and other learning opportunities. It’s great that the Academy recognises and offers membership to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. My membership offers the opportunity to access very high-quality learning in psychiatry that is just not accessible elsewhere. The presenters, presentations and resources are the best in the field. I have recommended Psych Scene Academy to many of my colleagues who are now members or considering taking up memberships.

About The Course


This on-demand course in psychiatric diagnostic formulation, designed at the level of a consultant psychiatrist, provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for structured assessment and formulation.

By integrating phenomenology, neurobiology, psychodynamics, and clinical narratives, this course offers a structured approach to diagnosis that moves beyond checklists to a hypothesis-driven, patient-centred model.

Participants will develop hierarchical reasoning skills, refine their case formulation techniques, and strengthen clinical synthesis through case-based learning, avoiding common diagnostic pitfalls.

Equip yourself with the tools to navigate complex psychiatric presentations and enhance individualised patient care with precision and confidence.

Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable for:

  • Consultant psychiatrists refining their diagnostic models
  • General Practitioners (GPs) working in mental health
  • Registrars preparing for long case and written exams
  • Psychologists
  • Mental health professionals
  • Nurse practitioners, mental health nurses, and allied health professionals seeking to enhance clinical reasoning

Accreditation Information:

  • Psychiatry Accreditation: This course is available for self-accreditation with the RANZCP and other relevant psychiatric and mental health organisations.
  • Upon completion, participants will receive 3.5 CPD hours (EA 3.5) and a certificate of completion, which can be used to claim CPD.

The art of diagnostic formulation forms the foundation for Episode 2, where psychopharmacology, neurobiology, and psychological models guide strategic treatment planning. Episode 3 brings it all together, refining advanced assessment and problem-solving in complex cases. This masterclass equips psychiatrists with structured yet intuitive skills to enhance clinical decisions and patient outcomes.

What You'll Learn


  • Implement a structured, hypothesis-driven approach to psychiatric formulation beyond DSM/ICD classifications.
  • Apply phenomenological, neurobiological, and psychodynamic principles to complex case formulations.
  • Enhance diagnostic precision through hypothesis testing and personalised treatment strategies.
  • Identify key clinical indicators from patient history to support comprehensive assessment.
  • Utilise the diagnostic hierarchy to refine differential diagnoses and optimise clinical decision-making.
  • Integrate biological, psychodynamic, cognitive, and sociocultural models for a multidimensional formulation.
  • Develop advanced clinical narratives that align formulation with strategic management planning.

Course Programme


6 Modules | 23 Units | 3.5 hours total length

  • William Osler’s Approach
  • Psychiatry is an exploratory art rather than a reductionist exercise
  • Moving beyond DSM/ICD constructs to a hypothesis-driven, dynamic approach
  • Phenomenology
  • Daniel Kahneman’s System 1 & System 2 Thinking
  • The role of reward prediction errors (RPEs) and Bayesian brain models in psychiatric learning
  • A stepwise, Sherlock Holmes-style approach to psychiatric diagnosis.
  • The Diagnostic Hierarchy
  • The Diagnostic Formulation - Bio-Psycho-Socio-Cultural-Diet-Lifestyle Model
  • Recognising implicit patterns in narratives
  • Heuristic Traps in Psychiatry
  • Why AI cannot replace psychiatric formulation – the human factor in diagnostics.
  • Phenomenology in Action: The PACES model
  • Predictive Coding & Bayesian Psychiatry – How the brain constructs meaning from fragmented information.
  • The Three-Layered Approach to Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Flexibility in Psychiatry
  • The Iterative Formulation Model – Deconstruct, Understand, Integrate, Strategize, Revise, Repeat.
  • 5P Model vs. Advanced Formulation Models
  • Clinical Decision-Making as a Bayesian Process
  • Case Studies and Formulation Narratives
  • Therapeutic Targets Based on Formulation
  • Developing an Individualised Treatment Plan Based on Formulation

Course Description


Welcome to The Art of Diagnostic Formulation in Psychiatry – From Patient History To Diagnostic Perspectives.

This on-demand course offers mental health professionals, including consultant psychiatrists, registrars, nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals, a comprehensive approach to mastering diagnostic formulation in psychiatry. You will refine your diagnostic skills and enhance patient care through a structured, dynamic approach to psychiatric diagnosis.

Module 1: The Foundation of Psychiatric Formulation
Explore the foundation behind the psychiatric formulation. This perspective challenges you to move beyond labels and consider the person behind the diagnosis. It encourages a dynamic, hypothesis-driven approach rather than a rigid, reductionist mindset. Gain insights into phenomenology and how Kahneman’s System 1 & 2 thinking shapes decision-making.

Module 2: The Hierarchical Model of Diagnosis & Clinical Reasoning

This module introduces a Sherlock Holmes-style stepwise approach to psychiatric diagnosis and guides you through a structured formulation hierarchy.

Diagnostic Hierarchy:

  • Organic & Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Substance-Induced & Medication-Related Conditions
  • Mesolimbic System & Psychotic Spectrum
  • Depressive Spectrum (ACE Model)
  • Anxiety, Trauma & Stress Dysregulation
  • Eating Disorders & OCD Personality Structure & Psychodynamic Theories

Module 3: Mastering the Psychiatric Interview – Beyond History Taking

Refine your psychiatric interview skills by recognising implicit patterns in narratives, such as cognitive biases and emotional clues. Learn to avoid common heuristic traps, premature closure, and diagnostic overshadowing. Learn the PACES model and differentiate between cognitive and affective patterns to sharpen your diagnostic intuition.

Module 4: From Data to Diagnosis: The Process of Clinical Synthesis

Explore the clinical synthesis process by integrating diagnostic data. Learn the predictive coding framework, Bayesian psychiatry, and a three-layered diagnostic approach, focusing on surface-level descriptive diagnosis, phenomenological  & Cognitive Hypothesis and neurobiological understanding. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic flexibility, helping clinicians refine diagnoses and reduce treatment resistance.

Module 5: The Art of Hypothesis Generation & Formulation

This module emphasizes the iterative process of diagnostic formulation. Using the 5P model, you will identify key factors that influence diagnosis and treatment, including genetic risks, stress diathesis, cognitive entrenchment, and more. The iterative nature of formulation allows for refined diagnostic thinking and personalized treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Module 6: Linking Formulation to Management – The Bridge to Part 2

Learn how to link diagnostic formulation directly to treatment planning. By applying Bayesian decision-making principles, you will reassess hypotheses with new data, explore therapeutic targets based on formulation, and explore case studies to develop personalised treatment plans based on individual patient formulations.

By the end of this course, you will have mastered the complex process of psychiatric formulation, from understanding patient history to applying diagnostic perspectives in clinical practice. Enrol now to gain the skills necessary to enhance patient care and refine your clinical decision-making in psychiatry.

Upon completion of this course, participants will receive a course completion certificate and 3.5 CPD hours towards educational activities. This course supports Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accordance with the CAPE Framework. It aligns with the domains of Addressing Health Inequities, Professionalism, and Ethics.

 

While our Academy members enjoy exclusive access to a range of courses and webinars—including this one—through their annual membership, we’re pleased to offer the option to purchase this course individually!

For details, scroll down to the Pricing section below.

This course offers a structured, hypothesis-driven approach to psychiatric formulation, integrating hierarchical models, clinical reasoning, and diagnostic synthesis. Strengthen your diagnostic precision, refine patient assessments, and develop targeted, evidence-based treatment strategies to enhance clinical outcomes.

Course Information

  • 3.5 hours
  • 3.5 CPD

Inclusions

  • 3+ Hours of Video lecture
  • Case-based learning
  • Certificate of Completion

Material Downloads

  • certificate

Instructor

Sanil Rege Dr. Sanil Rege MBBS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP

With extensive teaching experience through his various psychiatry course initiatives, Sanil is widely acknowledged as an enthusiastic and motivational training facilitator who promotes interaction and collaboration.

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 the provision of specialised training and education.

Dr Rege is also founder of Vita Healthcare, a private clinic in Mount Eliza specialising in adult mental healthcare, with over 20 years of clinical experience and 13 years of private practice experience treating disorders across the spectrum. He currently works in the community across in-patient, consultation-liaison and addiction psychiatry spaces. 

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BUY INDIVIDUAL COURSE - Part 1

$167
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