module specification

This module will focus on clients’ access to mental health care services in the NHS including specialized areas of psychopathology. Using formal classification systems and in line with the NHS and NICE guidelines, specialized clinical issues would target psychopathology and intervention strategies among clients with complex needs. A bio-psychosocial approach towards understanding and treating complex psychopathologies including substance misuse, eating disorders and ADHD would integrate an eclectic and multidisciplinary approach to treatment intervention. Various theoretical frameworks in both the understanding and management of psychological difficulties will be explored across the lifespan.

NICE guidelines, IAPT, specialised clinical issues, complex needs,
psychopathologies in accordance with the DSM and ICD guidelines across a range of specialised topics (e.g. ADHD, feeding and eating disorders, paraphilic disorders, substance misuse, gender dysphoria disorders, neurocognitive disorders, other conditions requiring specialised clinical attention)
Clinical considerations including Dual diagnosis, differential diagnosis and co-morbidity. LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4,LO5

Delivery and discussion of the module syllabi will be via interactive lectures and tutorials (11 X2hrs). In addition to the weekly seminar workshops which will provide a forum for the application of theory to practical problems (11 hrs), students are expected to work in groups to learn from each other and learn how to independently use other resources available, e.g. library, the internet, Weblearn and own organisation.  Hence a total of 11x3 hrs interactive sessions including seminar activities are designed to discuss various topics in the lectures and the pre-circulated seminar workshop activities. The module will also have its own dedicated Web Learn site to enable staff and students to readily contact each other and offers an on-line support/learning.

Workshops and seminars:
Information and materials relating to the workshop will be circulated once the course has commenced.   The seminars and workshops will familiarize students with various aspect of the course.  All workshops will relate to lecture topics and may be tested in the examination.   Hence, each student is expected to do the prior reading and consult few recommended texts and be actively involved in the seminar activities and group discussion.

The usual programme each week will comprise of a lecture followed by seminar workshop activities and group discussion. The workshops will use the content of the lecture and pre-circulated material for class discussion and group work.

On successful completion of the module, students should be able:
1. To examine psychological difficulties among clients with complex needs.
2. To develop an understanding of specialized psychopathology from a biological, behavioural, cognitive and psychosocial approach in line with NHS and NICE guidelines.
3. To develop an understanding of best practise when working with vulnerable groups with complex needs in accordance with the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) (NHS/improving access to psychological therapies)
4. To critically review psychopathology from a behavioural, cognitive, psychodynamic and experimental perspective.
5. To critically evaluate how comorbidity, dual and differential diagnoses affect both the assessment and treatment of psychopathologies requiring specialised services.

The module is as assessed as follows:-
• Coursework following same format (2 from 5 questions)

CORE
American Psychiatric Association., (APA, 2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th Ed.  Arlington. American Psychiatric Publishing. Washington.

Bennett, P., (2011). Abnormal and Clinical Psychology: An Introductory Textbook. Berkshire. McGraw Hill House. Open University Press.

Chandler, C., (2010). The Science of ADHD: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. Chichester, West Sussex, UK ; Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

Chandler, C., (2015). Psychobiology. BPS Textbooks in Psychology. West Sussex. Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Davey, G.C., (2014). Psychopathology: Research, Assessment and Treatment in Clinical Psychology (BPS Textbooks in Psychology). West Sussex Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Kirk, H.W., Weisbrod, J.O.A., Ericson, K.A., (2003). Psychosocial and Behavioural Aspects of Medicine. Baltimore and Philadelphia. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

ADDITIONAL

Field, M., (2015). Essential Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. London, Sage Publications Ltd.

ICD-10  (1992). The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. World Health Organisation.

Robbins, T., Everitt, B., Nutt, D., (2010). The Neurobiology of Addiction (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences). Oxford. Oxford University Press.