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Differences between FOD and COD STACER Exams

1. Interview Process

 

 

Foundations

Core

Item

Expectation

Criterion

Criterion

Rapport

Establishes relationship

Introduces self

Explains interview

Respectful

Open, explorative beginning

Introduces self

Explains interview

Respectful

Open, explorative beginning

Rapport

Develops and sustains rapport

Remains respectful and non-judgmental

Genuine interest displayed by verbal and nonverbal responses

Acknowledges patient’s distress with empathic responses

Remains respectful and non-judgmental

Genuine interest displayed by verbal and nonverbal responses

Acknowledges patient’s distress with empathic responses

Control of process

Maintains control of the interview

Interrupts politely when required

Attempts to redirect when required

Interrupts politely when required

Redirects when required

Facilitates organization of disorganized patients

Cultural sensitivity

Demonstrates cultural sensitivity

Engages patient in a culturally safe manner

Engages patient in a culturally safe manner

Ends the interview

Smoothly closes the interview

Attends to timing

Provides a pertinent closing statement

Attends to timing

Provides a pertinent closing statement

 

2. Interview Technique

 

 

Foundations

Core

Item

Expectation

Criterion

Criterion

Information gathering

Maintains an open, explorative process

Non-verbal  behaviour encourages patient to tell their story

Listens attentively

Note taking does not distract from the interview

Non-verbal behavior encourages patient to tell their story

Listens attentively

Note taking does not distract from the interview

Information gathering

Uses a facilitative questioning style

Questioning follows a logical sequence

Asks clear questions in plain language

Avoids leading questions

Avoids stacked (multiple)questions

Attempts to move between open and closed
questions

Facilitates expression of emotions

Questioning follows a logical but flexible sequence

Asks clear questions in plain language

Avoids leading questions

Avoids stacked (multiple)questions

Moves effectively between open and closed questions

Facilitates expression of emotion

Information gathering

Pursues important information

Appropriately responds to informational and affective cues

Attempts to pursue and clarify symptom detail

Appropriately responds to informational and
affective cues

Pursues symptom detail

Asks for clarification

Maintains Flow

Maintains Flow

Reframes when required

Summarizes when appropriate

Supportively confronts inconsistencies

Appropriately deals with unusual, difficult, or distressing content

Comfortably allows silence to facilitate further expression

Reframes when required

Summarizes when appropriate

 

3. Interview Content

 

 

Foundations

Core

Item

Expectation

Criterion

Criterion

Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history

Identifies the person

Obtains demographic information

Obtains complete demographic information

Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history

Identifies the
presenting complaint(s)
or problem(s) and
its/their history (History
of Presenting
Complaint)

Obtains data on presenting complaint(s) or problem(s)

Assesses pre-morbid state

Assesses stressors related to presenting illness

Inquires about previous illness episodes

Inquires about past and present treatment interventions and response

Obtains data on presenting complaint(s) or problem(s)

Assesses pre-morbid state

Assesses stressors related to presenting illness

Assesses previous illness episodes if relevant, and determines similarities with/differences from this episode

Identifies treatment interventions and response for this episode

Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history

Screens for symptoms relevant to the differential diagnosis and identification of comorbid symptoms

Ensures safety

Screens for symptoms of relevant co-morbid illnesses, including mood, psychotic, and anxiety symptoms

Inquires about substance use

Completes an appropriate risk assessment (suicidal and homicidal ideation)

Reviews current medication(s), dosage(s) and response

Reviews use of over-the-counter products

Assesses side-effects

Inquires about allergies

Reviews primary criteria of other relevant diagnoses

Reviews substance use and abuse

Assesses impact of substance use on person and others If appropriate, assesses motivation to change current substance use

Completes an appropriate risk assessment (self-harm, aggression, self-care, and competency)

Reviews current medication(s), dosage(s) and response

Reviews use of over-the-counter products

Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history of side effects

Defines allergy status

Elicits a complete, relevant ad Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history curate history

Identifies relevant past history

Reviews past medical history including family history of medical disorders

Reviews past psychiatric history

Reviews family psychiatric history

Reviews past medical history including family history of medical disorders

Reviews past psychiatric history

Reviews family psychiatric history

Reviews forensic history

 

Identifies the developmental and psycho-social history

Reviews family history

Reviews birth history if relevant

Inquires about childhood and adolescent development

Reviews occupational history and current functioning

Inquires about relationship status

Inquires about abuse history 

Assesses current supports

Inquires about other relevant social or cultural factors

Review and assesses: Family history and dynamics

Gestational and perinatal history

Childhood and adolescent development

Occupational history and current functioning

Relationship history

Past and current history of abuse

Current supports Relevant cultural identities, migration history, and associated trauma and stressors Spirituality

Identifies social and cultural supports including family, kin networks, and communities Identifies social and cultural stressors and systemic inequities Explores patient’s explanatory model of illness

Conducts a formal Mental State Examination as indicated

Conducts a formal Mental State Examination as indicated

Assesses mood symptoms

Assesses anxiety symptoms

Assesses psychotic symptoms

Assesses insight

Assesses cognition if relevant

Considers intellectual function if relevant

Appropriately adapts the Mental Status Examination to be culturally competent

Assesses mood symptoms

Assesses anxiety symptoms

Assesses psychotic symptoms

Assesses insight and judgment

Assesses cognition if relevant

Considers intellectual function if relevant

 

4. Case Presentation

 

 

Foundations

Core

Item

Expectation

Criterion

Criterion

Defines limitations of the data

Identifies issues in the information gathering process

Reflects on patient reliability if indicated

Identifies deficits in the interview and their potential effect on the data collection

Reports on the reliability of the patient (with examples)

Reports on the accessibility of the patient (with examples)

Identifies deficits in the interview and their potential effect on the data collection

Presentation skills

Provides a coherent, accurate summary of the case

Uses descriptive terms correctly (e.g., delusions)

Presents case in an organized manner that is sufficiently detailed

Accurately reports the Mental State Examination

Accurately reports the risk assessment (suicidal, homicidal, and self-harm ideation)

Considers relevant comorbidities

Uses descriptive terms correctly (e.g., delusions)

Presents case in an orderly, concise, systematic manner that is sufficiently detailed

Accurately reports the Mental State Examination

Accurately reports the risk assessment (self-harm, aggression, self-care, competency)

Identifies relevant comorbidities

Synthesizing skills

Synthesizes all the clinical information into a diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and case formulation

Presentation includes information to support the preferred diagnosis and differential

Provides a probable working diagnosis including co-morbidities supported by evidence from the interview Provides a differential diagnosis supported by evidence from interview

Presentation emphasizes the necessary information to support and defend the preferred diagnosis and differential

Provides a working diagnosis including co-morbidities supported by evidence from the interview Provides a differential diagnosis supported by evidence from interview

Discusses co- morbidities and interplay between diagnosis

Provides a realistic prognosis

Describes barriers to compliance or optimal treatment for this patient

Synthesizing skills

Presents a formulation covering the rudimentary biopsycho-social factors influencing the patient and their disorder

Identifies some contributing: Biological factors Psychological factors Social Cultural factors

Starts to consider the interplay between these components

Identifies contributing: Biological factors Psychological factors Social factors Cultural factors

Provides a sophisticated and accurate account of the interplay between these components that enhances the understanding of the patient

Identifies prominent internal conflicts and/or cognitive distortions that influence the patient’s presentation

 

 

 

 

 

5. Treatment Plan

 

Foundation

Foundation

Core

Core

Item

Expectation

Criterion

Expectation

Criterion

Presents a coherent, safe and appropriate treatment plan

 Identifies information required to consolidate the diagnosis

Identifies bio- psycho-social investigations required to confirm the diagnosis or provide optimal care to the patient

Identifies information required to consolidate the diagnosis

Identifies further, appropriate, and cost effective bio- psycho-social investigations required to confirm the diagnosis or provide optimal care to the patient

Presents a coherent, safe and appropriate treatment plan

Communicates a safe multimodal treatment plan

Presents an immediate and short term treatment plan

Suggests specific biological therapies for the patient

Suggests specific nonpharmacological interventions for the patient, including psychotherapeutic approaches and social and culturally safe interventions

Communicates a comprehensive treatment plan

Utilizing a bio-psycho-social matrix defines an immediate,short- term, and long-term treatment plan

Recommends specific biological therapies (pharmacotherapy, ECT, TMS, etc.) for the patient

Recommends a specific psychotherapeutic approach for the patient

Considers social and cultural factors in all aspects of treatment planning

Identifies appropriate collaborations with family, community or other service providers Provides evidence for the efficacy of treatment plan Identifies the expected benefits and risks of the treatment plan Identifies the follow-up procedure