Retrieve 5 PubMed Abstracts abstracts detailing a pharmacological treatment for a disorder. For each abstract, students must list the drug and its mechanism of action and the disorder its used to treat.

Four short-answer questions. Students need to demonstrate their knowledge about the DSM and alternative classification models, appropriate behaviour as a clinical psychologist, and how to tell the difference between science and pseudoscience.

Hurdle Requirement. This task is a hurdle requirement. The assessment allows demonstration of 'fitness to practice' as a clinical psychologist, which is essential prior to the first placement in the Macquarie University Psychology Clinic. Consistent with the Assessment Policy of the University, students who make a serious attempt at the task but fail to meet the required standards, will be provided with one additional opportunity to complete the task to a satisfactory standard. Failure of the second attempt will result in a Fail (FH) grade for the entire unit (even if the raw mark for the Unit is over 50) and this, in turn, will result in a delay in starting the Clinic placement or further placements. The required standard is that each section be judged to be at the “Meets Expectations” standard. When any section is judged to be “Below Expected Standards”, you will be given a mark of 49% for the assessment task and be asked to complete the task again. If on the second attempt, students meet the hurdle requirement, the maximum mark awarded for the task will be 50%. 

40 multiple-choice questions. This exam will allow students to demonstrate their knowledge about the biological bases and pharmacology of the anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.

Hurdle Requirement. This task is a hurdle requirement. The assessment allows demonstration of 'fitness to practice' as a clinical psychologist, which is essential prior to the first placement in the Macquarie University Psychology Clinic. Consistent with the Assessment Policy of the University, students who make a serious attempt at the task but fail to meet the required standards, will be provided with one additional opportunity to complete the task to a satisfactory standard. Failure of the second attempt will result in a Fail (FH) grade for the entire unit (even if the raw mark for the Unit is over 50) and this, in turn, will result in a delay in starting the Clinic placement or further placements. The required standard is that each section be judged to be at the “Meets Expectations” standard. When performance is judged to be “Below Expected Standards”, you will be given a mark of 49% for the assessment task and be asked to complete the task again. If on the second attempt, students meet the hurdle requirement, the maximum mark awarded for the task will be 50%. 

Students will be provided with a case and they will have to establish a diagnosis(es) and provide support for that diagnosis(es). They will also need to describe a theoretical model for that disorder, provide scientific evidence for that model, and describe how the patient’s symptoms fit that model. (1500 words)

Hurdle Requirement. This task is a hurdle requirement. The assessment allows demonstration of 'fitness to practice' as a clinical psychologist, which is essential prior to the first placement in the Macquarie University Psychology Clinic. Consistent with the Assessment Policy of the University, students who make a serious attempt at the task but fail to meet the required standards, will be provided with one additional opportunity to complete the task to a satisfactory standard. Failure of the second attempt will result in a Fail (FH) grade for the entire unit (even if the raw mark for the Unit is over 50) and this, in turn, will result in a delay in starting the Clinic placement or further placements. The required standard is that each section be judged to be at the “Meets Expectations” standard. When any section is judged to be “Below Expected Standards”, you will be given a mark of 49% for the assessment task and be asked to complete the task again. If on the second attempt, students meet the hurdle requirement, the maximum mark awarded for the task will be 50%. 

Students will be provided with a case and they will have to establish a diagnosis(es) and provide support for that diagnosis(es). They will also need to describe a theoretical model for that disorder, provide scientific evidence for that model, and describe how the patient’s symptoms fit that model. (1500 words)

Hurdle Requirement. This task is a hurdle requirement. The assessment allows demonstration of 'fitness to practice' as a clinical psychologist, which is essential prior to the first placement in the Macquarie University Psychology Clinic. Consistent with the Assessment Policy of the University, students who make a serious attempt at the task but fail to meet the required standards, will be provided with one additional opportunity to complete the task to a satisfactory standard. Failure of the second attempt will result in a Fail (FH) grade for the entire unit (even if the raw mark for the Unit is over 50) and this, in turn, will result in a delay in starting the Clinic placement or further placements. The required standard is that each section be judged to be at the “Meets Expectations” standard. When any section is judged to be “Below Expected Standards”, you will be given a mark of 49% for the assessment task and be asked to complete the task again. If on the second attempt, students meet the hurdle requirement, the maximum mark awarded for the task will be 50%. 

Throughout the semester, articles covering the various disorders discussed during this class are assigned. Students are expected to read these articles and adequately participate in class discussions about these articles. In addition, students are required to present one of the articles to the class. This presentation will require the student, who will act as the therapist, to talk to another student in the class, who will act as the client. The student therapist will present the theoretical rationale and its corresponding evidence to the student client as if he/she were delivering the psychoeducation portion of a treatment to a new client. 

Hurdle Requirement. This task is a hurdle requirement. The assessment allows demonstration of 'fitness to practice' as a clinical psychologist, which is essential prior to the first placement in the Macquarie University Psychology Clinic. Consistent with the Assessment Policy of the University, students who make a serious attempt at the task but fail to meet the required standards, will be provided with one additional opportunity to complete the task to a satisfactory standard. Failure of the second attempt will result in a Fail (FH) grade for the entire unit (even if the raw mark for the Unit is over 50) and this, in turn, will result in a delay in starting the Clinic placement or further placements. The required standard is that each section be judged to be at the “Meets Expectations” standard. When any section is judged to be “Below Expected Standards”, you will be given a mark of 49% for the assessment task and be asked to complete the task again. If on the second attempt, students meet the hurdle requirement, the maximum mark awarded for the task will be 50%.