URL study guide
https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/P_HPSPAPRCourse Objective
Learning outcomes: After taking this course, students should be able to: Identify and differentiate common mental health disorders.Explain biological, psychological, and social explanatory models of mental health disorders Compare and contrast the prevalence, presentation/symptomatology and explanatory models of common mental health disorders. Describe what risk- and protective factors play a role in the development of common mental health disorders and explain how these may contribute to the prevention of psychopathology. Critically reflect on the connection between psychopathology and prevention strategies in daily life and use scientific literature to back up your reflection. Present your work effectively and concisely in written format.
Course Content
The first step in psychological treatment is recognition: you need to be able to recognize, differentiate and classify the symptoms and problems that a patient presents in order to formulate a diagnosis and provide the right type of treatment. Therefore, this course will equip you with an in-depth understanding and critical awareness of the incidence, prevalence and presentation of common mental health and neurological disorders that develop throughout the lifespan. Additionally, we will discuss how these disorders can be explained from a biological, psychological or social perspective and what risk and protective factors may play a role in its development. Finally, this course teaches you how to distinguish between psychological disorders and how to make differential diagnoses. This knowledge forms the essential base that is needed to become a well-equipped mental health professional. During the lectures, experts in the field will give you an in-depth overview of common mental health and neurological disorders, its explanatory models and potential risk and protective factors that play a role in the development or maintenance. Additionally, some of the most recent research findings will be discussed and you will learn to differentiate between disorders and apply the classification systems (DSM-5 and ICD-11) to increase awareness and recognition of different symptomatology. Each week (except the first and final week of the course), the first lecture will cover a mental health disorder (category) and the second lecture will cover a risk/protective factor related to this disorder. That way you will get a good overview of different mental disorders and what factors may play a role in the development and prevention of psychopathology.Teaching Methods
Lectures (14)Method of Assessment
1. Three written assignments 2. Multiple choice examLiterature
will be made available on Canvas.Target Audience
This course is directed at students with an interest in clinical psychology, from both a research perspective as well as a clinical practice perspective. As an honours student you can follow the course as is, or participate in the extra star credits project. In that case you are expected to demonstrate strong critical thinking skills and have increased curiosity for the development and maintenance of mental disorders.Entry Requirements
This course is part of the minor "Psychopathology, Health and Prevention". Therefore, it is advised to have passed the preminor "Emotion, Cognition and Behavior" (or equivalent) to start well-prepared. It's important that you have a basic understanding of the different psychological and neurological disorders (e.g., DSM-5 classifications), as the present course will built on to this knowledge and provide a more in-depth understanding of mechanisms that may play an important role in the development and maintenance of these disorders.Language of Tuition
- English
Study type
- Bachelor