Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit builds upon your undergraduate studies in abnormal psychology and is designed to provide you with a foundation and critical awareness of the phenomenology and development of psychological disorders. The unit focuses upon the principles informing our understanding of psychopathology in a clinical context. That is, the unit covers the phenomenology of psychopathology, starting with signs and symptoms, syndromes and personality functioning and then examines clinical reasoning, decision making and diagnostic systems utilised in adult mental health. The major domains of psychopathology are then examined from a descriptive, historical and aetiological perspective. Personality dimensions are examined as these influence the presentation of disorders. Professionally, it is imperative that practicing psychologists have a foundation in the diagnosis and maintaining mechanisms of various disorders as a basis for understanding a wide range of client problems and disorders across varying ages and settings and be able to demonstrate clinical competencies, related to assessment, treatment and prevention of disorders in adults.

The unit is designed to provide an underpinning for skills to be used in complementary units and supervised practica and to develop core skills in understanding the principles which underpin major diagnostic systems.

Aims

The aims of the unit are to provide you with advanced knowledge of clinical psychopathology, an understanding of theories, dynamic concepts as they relate to clinical psychopathology, and a set of skills to facilitate the acquisition of further knowledge of the area within practical placements.

You should be able to demonstrate the above by meeting a set of competency skills covering history gathering, mental status examination, diagnosis and formulation.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Critically discuss the principles underlying diagnostic systems.


2. Gain proficiency in the use of DSM IV-TR in the diagnosis of psychological disorders.


3. Demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to conceptualise the psychological, biological, and social factors that influence psychological vulnerability and disorders in adults and children.


4. Critically discuss the aetiology, course and management of the major psychological disorders covered in the DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 from the perspective of the major theoretical paradigms covered in the unit.


5. Outline the major pharmacological treatments used in the management of the major disorders.


6. Demonstrate the acquisition of the above competencies by undertaking an assessment interview and arrive at a formulation and an onward management plan of a client in a clinical setting.


7. Demonstrate an awareness of a consumer perspective of contemporary mental health issues.

Content

The unit, building upon undergraduate teaching in psychopathology, utilises a problem-based format, clinical seminars and a clinical-based skills building component. The seminar based component of the unit will be presented by staff and students and will cover the phenomenology, classification, and the theories underlying the major disorders from an advanced clinical perspective including: organic mental disorders, schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform and dissociative disorders, psychosexual disorders and personality disorders. The seminars will critically examine current definitions, the historical development of our conceptualisation of the disorder, critical reviews of relevant research and theories of, and implications for psychological management options. Issues relevant to the psychodiagnostic process may also be included.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is conducted in three-hour seminars including approximately one hour involving class discussion of the problem based learning tasks, as well as a two hour lecture. Classes may also incorporate AV presentations, demonstrations, and group-based exercises. You are encouraged to actively participate in the learning process and contribute your knowledge and current learning to the classes. Thus the focus of the course is upon an active self-directed interactive learning approach, as opposed to a passive lecturer directed learning approach. You will also be asked to complete and submit weekly definition of terms sheet.

Assessment

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Objective 1-5)

Worksheets.
You will be required to complete and submit 10 weekly worksheets as part of the unit requirements. These worksheets will require that you define key terms in the area of descriptive psychopathology, or relate to a discussion of problem based learning tasks. Worksheets need to be submitted for discussion on a weekly basis and will provide a basis for class discussion.

Assessment name: Written Assignment
Description: You will be asked to form pairs and visit a mental health setting or group home where you will have the opportunity of interviewing a person with a current or history of a mental illness. The visit will be supervised. You will then be asked to write a two part assignment on this case. The first part will include a brief case report (1500 words). This will include the following headings: presenting problems, mental status, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, relevant history, formulation, and treatment plan. The second section will involve you choosing one of the four models described by Lewis (2000) to explain the development of the maladaptive behaviours and processes associated with the primary mental disorder that the patient has, or else another disorder of your choosing (1500 words).
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4 and 7
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: 2wks after interview

Assessment name: Examination
Description: A final examination of unit content will be conducted on completion of the unit during the University's official examination period.
Relates to objectives: 1-5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (4th ed.). Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). Washington: American Psychiatric Press.

Gabbard, G.O. (2005). Psychodynamic psychiatry in clinical practice. Washington: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Robinson, D.J. (2001) Brain calipers: Descriptive psychopathology and the psychiatric mental status examination. London, Ont.: Rapid Psychler Press, 2nd ed.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 13-Sep-2012