MMD8386 Title: Differential Diagnosis: Identifying Common Medical Conditions Frequently Misdiagnosed as Mental Health Problems Description: The objectives of this course are to provide the trainee with an overview guide to common medical conditions that are frequently misdiagnosed as mental health problems. When the trainee completes this course, he or she will: -Understand the assessment process for identifying clients with medical illnesses that appear as mental health symptoms -Identify depression or anxiety indicating medical illness -Understand the bio-physiologic mechanisms of depression and anxiety caused by medical illness -Know the biochemical mechanisms of co-morbidity -Comprehend the psychological mechanisms of co-morbidity -Learn frequently encountered physical illnesses co-morbid with depression -Know common drugs and medications causing depression/anxiety This intermediate level course is primarily designed for clinicians in the middle stages of their career, or for clinicians reviewing basic concepts in this treatment area. This course was written by Barbara Gulesserian, MSN. Ms. Gulesserian is a Clinical Nurse Practitioner with twenty years of private practice experience providing psychotherapy to adults in clinical practice. Ms. Gulesserian has performed psychotherapy in group and individual practice, and is a Certified Group Psychotherapist and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist.