Students
PSYC8987 – Child and Adult Psychopathology 1
2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Melissa Norberg
Lecturer
Jennifer Cornish
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MClinPsych
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit aims to develop students' conceptual and diagnostic understanding of the mental disorders contained within the DSM-5's categories of bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-and stressor-related disorders, and the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Importantly, this unit will discuss the evidence (or lack of evidence) for these disorders and their existing theoretical models in light of the history of the DSM and its alternatives. Moreover, this unit will take a lifespan approach, by exploring potential variations in mental disorders in childhood, adulthood, and later life. Lastly, this unit will provide an overview of the biological bases of and pharmacology for the anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, and for schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Recognise and differentially diagnose DSM disorders, taking into account an individual's context.
- ULO2: Explain key demographic and epidemiological characteristics, along with the psychological theories underlying their aetiology and maintenance, the evidence supporting them, as well as risk and protective factors of the main disorders.
- ULO3: Identify an appropriate theoretical model for understanding a disorder and for guiding its treatment based on scientific evidence.
- ULO4: Explain the history of the DSM, its strengths and weaknesses, and alternative classification models.
- ULO5: Demonstrate understanding of the neuroscience and pharmacology of common mental disorders.
- ULO6: Act as a scientist-practitioner: i.e., a clinician who integrates scientific findings into their practice in order to make informed mental health care decisions for their patients.
General Assessment Information
Exams and presentations take place during class hours, while case reports are to be submitted via Turnitin.
Late submissions All assessment tasks have a strict due date. Ordinarily, no extensions of time for submission of assessment tasks will be granted. If students experience unexpected, unavoidable, and serious circumstances affecting submission of assessable work they may lodge an application for Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au with supporting documentary evidence. All requests for special consideration must be made no later than five working days after the due date of the assessment task, and when possible, should be requested in advance as there is no guarentee for extensions. When special consideration has not been granted, late submissions will not be accepted.
Hurdle requirements All of the assessment tasks are hurdle requirements - they require a minimum level of performance in order for students to pass the Unit. The assessment tasks allow 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 standards for the hurdle tasks will be provided via iLearn prior to completion of the task.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final examination | 30% | Yes | Week 13 in-class |
| In class test | 15% | Yes | Week 5 in-class |
| Case Report: Mood Disorder | 5% | Yes | 29/03/2021 @ 9am (Week 6) |
| Psychoeducation Presentation | 20% | Yes | TBA |
| Case Report: Anxiety disorder | 30% | Yes | 24/05/2021 at 9am (Week 12) |
Final examination
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: Week 13 in-class
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Final examination in final week of semester, in accordance with relevant requirements.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Recognise and differentially diagnose DSM disorders, taking into account an individual's context.
- Explain key demographic and epidemiological characteristics, along with the psychological theories underlying their aetiology and maintenance, the evidence supporting them, as well as risk and protective factors of the main disorders.
- Identify an appropriate theoretical model for understanding a disorder and for guiding its treatment based on scientific evidence.
- Explain the history of the DSM, its strengths and weaknesses, and alternative classification models.
- Act as a scientist-practitioner: i.e., a clinician who integrates scientific findings into their practice in order to make informed mental health care decisions for their patients.
In class test
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Week 5 in-class
Weighting: 15%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Multiple choice questions in 1 hour
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the neuroscience and pharmacology of common mental disorders.
Case Report: Mood Disorder
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 29/03/2021 @ 9am (Week 6)
Weighting: 5%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
In this 1500 word report, 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, describe how the patient’s symptoms fit that model and select an appropriate intervention.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Recognise and differentially diagnose DSM disorders, taking into account an individual's context.
- Explain key demographic and epidemiological characteristics, along with the psychological theories underlying their aetiology and maintenance, the evidence supporting them, as well as risk and protective factors of the main disorders.
- Identify an appropriate theoretical model for understanding a disorder and for guiding its treatment based on scientific evidence.
- Act as a scientist-practitioner: i.e., a clinician who integrates scientific findings into their practice in order to make informed mental health care decisions for their patients.
Psychoeducation Presentation
Assessment Type 1: Clinical performance evaluation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: TBA
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
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, as well as present one of the articles to the class within 20 minutes.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Recognise and differentially diagnose DSM disorders, taking into account an individual's context.
- Explain key demographic and epidemiological characteristics, along with the psychological theories underlying their aetiology and maintenance, the evidence supporting them, as well as risk and protective factors of the main disorders.
- Identify an appropriate theoretical model for understanding a disorder and for guiding its treatment based on scientific evidence.
- Act as a scientist-practitioner: i.e., a clinician who integrates scientific findings into their practice in order to make informed mental health care decisions for their patients.
Case Report: Anxiety disorder
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 24/05/2021 at 9am (Week 12)
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
In this 1500 word report, 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, describe how the patient’s symptoms fit that model and select an appropriate intervention.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Recognise and differentially diagnose DSM disorders, taking into account an individual's context.
- Explain key demographic and epidemiological characteristics, along with the psychological theories underlying their aetiology and maintenance, the evidence supporting them, as well as risk and protective factors of the main disorders.
- Identify an appropriate theoretical model for understanding a disorder and for guiding its treatment based on scientific evidence.
- Act as a scientist-practitioner: i.e., a clinician who integrates scientific findings into their practice in order to make informed mental health care decisions for their patients.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Three-hour seminars are held weekly. Students are required to prepare for seminars by completing the required readings beforehand (see iLearn), so that they can fully engage in discussion with their classmates and convenor and adequately complete the assessments. Students must purchase two textbooks for this unit:
1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Author.
2. Leonard, BE (2003). Fundamentals of Psychopharmacology. (3rd ed.). Wiley Press.
Students are expected to present to all seminars on time. Late arrivals and missed seminars must be discussed in advance with the Unit Convenor/Course Director.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 18/03/2021 | The General Assessment Information inaccurately stated that the Mood Disorders Case Report is not a hurdle assessment. This text was removed. |
| 09/02/2021 | Assessment deadlines modified. |
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook