PY7191 - Psychopathology (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Psychopathology | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | ||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module will introduce you to core topics in psychopathology and clinical practice, including treatments for a range of mental health conditions and neuropsychological disorders. It will allow you to explore the nature of mental health conditions and neuropsychological disorders through biological, social, behavioural, and cognitive perspectives, as well as mental health service users’ experiences. You will learn how to diagnose and assess a range of mental health disorders and to appreciate how social and cultural factors can influence these practices. The module will utilise a variety of teaching and learning methods to provide an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to understanding psychopathology. These features will include introduction to formal classification systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) and skills in research and professional practice.
Prior learning requirements
N/A
Syllabus
Topics covered in the module will be drawn from: definition and perspectives of psychopathology (e.g., biological, social, behavioural, and cognitive perspectives); clinical presentation of a range of mental health and neuropsychological disorders; assessing and diagnosing psychopathology (e.g., observation, interviewing, testing); practical, ethical and cultural issues; classification and description of the major disorders as described in DSM-5 (e.g., anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, personality and neuropsychological disorders); and research methods in the study of psychopathology.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The learning objectives will be achieved through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops, seminars, supplementary guided web-based learning, and self-managed independent study. You will be encouraged to reflect on your learning throughout the module, particularly using formative feedback, and to take responsibility for identifying developmental needs.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychopathology and understand the importance of multidisciplinary approaches.
- Critically evaluate the main principles of diagnosis, assessment, and treatment for a range of mental and neuropsychological disorders.
- Understand how clinical psychologists conduct research on psychopathology, including ethical considerations.
- Acknowledge the importance of service users’ experiences in shaping clinical practice and research on psychopathology.
Assessment strategy
There are two assessments in this module.
Assessment 1
A critical overview of core approaches to diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of clinical disorders (2000 words excluding references).
Assessment 2
A critical discussion of the importance of ethical, inclusive, and self-reflective practice when working with diverse populations in mental health contexts. This can be presented in one of two ways:
Option 1: An essay (1500 words excluding references)
Option 2: A video-recorded oral presentation/screencast (10 minutes)
To pass the module you must achieve a minimum aggregate grade of 50%.