PSY5405 · Psychopathology 2

Overview

In this unit, you will be equipped with a solid foundation in comprehending and assessing psychopathology in the child and adolescent population. You will learn to identify and describe common emotional and behavioural disorders experienced by children and adolescents, and develop the skills to competently and ethically assess and diagnose these conditions. We'll explore the aetiology of these disorders, examining the various biological, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to their development. Ethical decision-making is at the core of our curriculum, ensuring you can navigate complex moral dilemmas inherent in clinical practice with integrity and professionalism. You'll also gain proficiency in utilizing evidence-based assessment tools, honing your skills to effectively evaluate emotional and behavioural symptoms and assess functional impairments in child and adolescent clients. Furthermore, you will learn to formulate evidence-based treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of child and adolescent clients, drawing upon current research and therapeutic modalities. Lastly, our emphasis on effective communication and interdisciplinary collaboration will prepare you to work seamlessly with other professionals in the field, providing holistic care to children and adolescents facing emotional and behavioural challenges. This unit promises a rich learning experience, enabling you to become a well-rounded and compassionate clinician in the realm of child and adolescent psychopathology.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Apply diagnostic criteria for a range of child and adolescent psychopathological disorders to accurate assessment and differential diagnosis
2. Investigate/critically evaluate the multifaceted aetiological factors contributing to child and adolescent psychopathology, integrating biological, psychological, and environmental perspectives
3. Apply ethical principles and guidelines in clinical practice and demonstrate the ability to make morally sound decisions when dealing with complex ethical dilemmas related to child and adolescent psychopathological cases
4. Formulate evidence-based assessment plan to effectively evaluate the psychopathological symptoms and functional impairments experienced by child and adolescent
5. Formulate evidence-based treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of child and adolescent clients, integrating current research findings and therapeutic modalities for various psychopathological conditions
6. Develop effective communication and collaboration skills to facilitate integrated care for child and adolescent clients with psychopathological concerns

Workload

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising: Contact hours for students: 3-hr in-person/ online-live session per week Additional requirements for students: Independent study including individual/ group assignment and self-learning to make up the required minimum hours during the semester.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.