Topics in Child and Adolescent Mental Health
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PSTY4045 | Psychiatry and Applied Psychology | 4 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- PSTY4045
- School
- Psychiatry and Applied Psychology
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
Specific topics will include:
• Diagnostic and dimensional models and approaches to understanding mental health in children, including ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, early-onset psychosis and autism
• Comorbidity in child psychiatry
• Lifespan factors in mental health
• Cognitive and neuropsychological models of neurodevelopmental disorders and childhood behaviours
• Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of mental health in children and young people
• Epidemiology and identification of mental health problems in children and young people
• Alcohol and substance misuse in adolescence
• Behavioural factors and approaches in childhood mental health
Target Students
MSc in Mental Health: Research and Practice students, PG Diploma in Mental Health: Research and Practice students, PG Certificate in Mental Health: Research and Practice, MSci Psychology students.
Classes
- Two 2-hour lectures each week for 10 weeks
2 x 2 hour lectures for 10 weeks = 40 hours; Independent reading and assessment = 160 hours
Assessment
- 50% Presentation 1: Pre-recorded presentation.
- 50% Coursework 1: A 2500-word research protocol for a study in the area of child and adolescent mental health
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module considers the conceptual and practical issues (including ethical considerations) in identifying, diagnosing and managing mental health and behavioural problems in children and young people. The module will consist of a mix of lectures and student-led seminars (informal group presentations and discussions), each focussing on a key topic in the field of child and adolescent mental health. Specific topics will include:• Diagnostic and dimensional models and approaches to understanding mental health in children, including ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, early-onset psychosis and autism • Comorbidity in child psychiatry • Lifespan factors in mental health• Cognitive and neuropsychological models of neurodevelopmental disorders and childhood behaviours• Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of mental health in children and young people • Epidemiology and identification of mental health problems in children and young people• Alcohol and substance misuse in adolescence • Behavioural factors and approaches in childhood mental health The module aims to:• Provide an understanding of conceptual and practical issues involved in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment in child and adolescent psychiatry• Develop an appreciation of pragmatic issues in clinical practice and provide an opportunity to discuss relevant aspects of the course within a multidisciplinary groupLearning Outcomes
By the end of this module, the students should have: a) Knowledge and Understanding
- Acquired a working knowledge of models & approaches in child and adolescent mental health
- Acquired an understanding of the controversies surrounding the diagnosis and treatment options of child and adolescent mental health disorders
- Acquired a working knowledge of research methods in child and adolescent mental health research
- Acquired an appreciation of the cognitive and affective processes or mechanisms proposed to underlie child and adolescent mental health disorders
b) Intellectual Skills
- Developed an ability to critically appraise various research methodologies in the field of child and adolescent mental health
- Developed an ability to critically appraise theoretical arguments and/ or applied research findings across a wide range of disciplines or perspectives in the field of child and adolescent mental health
c) Transferable (key) skills
- Developed an ability to present others’ research findings in the field of child and adolescent mental health in written format
- Developed scientific thinking skills to enable the appraisal of research in the field of child and adolescent mental health
- Developed scientific thinking skills to enable the formulation of research in the field of child and adolescent mental health
d) Professional Skills
- Developed an ability to critically appraise theory, methods and results of research from a wide range of disciplines in the field of child and adolescent mental health
- Acquired a working knowledge of ethics and research governance structures and processes relevant to the field of child and adolescent mental health
Conveners
- Dr Madeline Groom