| CODE | PSY5659 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Development Psychopathology | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Psychology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will build on the trainees' previous knowledge of developmental psychopathology gained at undergraduate level. The study-unit describes how childhood disorders and disabilities are shaped by aetiological factors. In addition, it considers the underlying psychopathology in a range of developmental and acquired disorders. The complexity of studying the developing child in the presence of psychopathology is illustrated by clinical case studies and disorder profiles. Developmental disorders are used to illustrate brain-behaviour relationships including neurodevelopmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorders, ADHD and psychiatric problems such as childhood schizophrenia. Further, the study-unit focuses on the signs and symptoms of the major disorders with particular emphasis on their meaning and the contexts in which they occur. These will be examined and critically evaluated in the context of the most commonly used diagnostic classification systems (DSM-V and ICD-10). Students will be introduced to the concept of formulation and the guiding principles of how to use clinical information to create an effective case formulation. Students will also be introduced to the most relevant updated therapeutic interventions that are recommended by international bodies (such as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines from the UK). This will allow them to think critically in terms of choosing and evaluating the most appropriate evidence based treatments. They will also be exposed to a critical analysis of services presently being offered locally and will learn to adapt their treatments in accordance to the Maltese cultural context. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims at teaching trainees to diagnose children and adolescents with various types of disabilities and childhood disorders. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically describe and differentiate between various disabilities and disorders of childhood and adolescence; - Critically evaluate the theoretical advances in the field of developmental psychopathology; - Evaluate the symptomatology of various types of disabilities and childhood disorders as they are exhibited in children and adolescents; - Evaluate the different ways of formulating conditions that may be exhibited in children; - Critically evaluate therapeutic interventions in relation to current research evidence; - Evaluate the best treatment of choice to specific types of disability and/or disorders. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Differentiate between normal and abnormal development in children; - Map different clinical presentations on to different profiles of psychopathology using the relevant diagnostic classification systems; - Conduct a formulation which demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the child/adolescent's difficulties whilst taking into consideration the child's history, life-context and presenting symptoms; - Identify and evaluate appropriate treatment methods tailored to children/adolescents and their families; - Critically evaluate various support systems of working with the children and their families; - Demonstrate a collaborative attitude and action in interdisciplinary work with the various support professionals and systems working with children/adolescents and their families; - Demonstrate considerations of issues of class, race and gender in assessment and intervention in child and adolescent psychopathology. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Reading List: Carr, A. (2006). The Handbook of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology. A Contextual Approach. Routledge. Dowling, E & Osbourne, E. (latest edition) The Family and the School: A joint systems approach to problems with Children. Routledge. Fonagy, P., Cottrell,, D., & Phillips, J., (2014) What Works for Whom? A Critical Review of Treatments for Children and Adolescents. The Guilford Press. Johnston. L., & Dallos, R. (2013) Formulation in Psychology and Psychotherapy: Making sense of people's problems. Routledge. Melvin Lewis (latest edition) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. A Comprehensive Textbook Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-683-04955-0. Wenar, C. (latest edition). Developmental Psychopathology. McGraw Hill. Further reading: Alvarez, A. (1998) Live Company. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with Autistic, Borderline, Deprived and Abused Children. Routledge. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite qualifications: BPsy Hons | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Michelle Mifsud Angela Abela Paul A. Bartolo Stephanie Bartolo Benjamin Albert Galea Lara Jane Gauci Emma Micallef Kristina Vella (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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