512-323 Prof. Applications of Psychology 3

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

512-220 (or equivalent)

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject comprises three units: psychopathology (not offered in 2001), human neuropsychology and health psychology. At least two units will be offered in any year. Students are required to complete all units offered.

The objectives of the psychopathology unit are to provide students with a knowledge of the common abnormal psychological disorders in adults, with an emphasis on the signs and symptoms of those disorders, their putative aetiologies, courses, and prognoses. In addition they are to teach students to adopt a critical perspective in evaluating research pertinent to aetiological and nosological issues. The content will include an investigation of various models of psychopathology and their personal/social implications with emphasis on a phenomenological framework. The material will provide a broad basis for understanding diagnosis, classification, and major categories of mental disorder. Lectures will highlight current issues, research, and areas of special interest.

The objectives of the human neuropsychology unit are to provide students with a knowledge of the common neuropsychological disorders in adults, including causes, assessment, and the care and treatment of people affected by these disorders; and to introduce students to basic conceptual and methodological issues in neuropsychological assessment. These issues encompass different approaches and techniques in assessment, diagnostic decision making, and neuropsychological assessment as a scientific endeavour. The content includes the theory and practice of human neuropsychology including: clinical and psychometric approaches to neuropsychological assessment; common neuropsychological syndromes including the dementias, traumatic brain injury, alcohol-related brain damage, AIDS, and neuropsychological rehabilitation.

The objective of the health psychology unit is to provide an introduction to the area of health psychology including determinants of health promoting and risk behaviours, issues in health promotion, and psychological issues related to coping with physical illness, pain and grief. There will be particular consideration of models predicting determinants of health behaviours; specific factors involved in understanding safe sex, sun-protection, smoking and exercise behaviours; research examining the relationship between stress and illness; and the nature of pain. Finally the unit will consider issues related to eating behaviour, in particular obesity and disordered eating.

Assessment

An examination of no more than 2 hours (50%) and written work of no more than 3000 words (50%).