Unit Overview

Description

This unit introduces students to a range of of psychological and neuropsychological disorders (e.g. schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, acquired brain injury, dementia, substance dependence) with clinical presentations that are complicated by neurocognitive and neurobehavioural impairments in addition to affective and interpersonal symptoms. Specialised assessment techniques for evaluation of neuropsychological functioning (e.g. memory attention and executive functions) are introduced and approaches for ethical and appropriate test selection, including critical evaluation of psychometric properties, are reviewed. The unit also introduces students to empirically validated interventions for disorders with neurocognitive impairments. The unit includes a mix of learning modalities including lectures, workshops, brief student presentations and group work typically centred on case examples.

Credit
6 points
Offering
(see Timetable)
AvailabilityLocationMode
Semester 2UWA (Perth)On-campus
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate the ability to identify and apply appropriate assessment strategies for adult complex psychological presentations.; (2) demonstrate the ability to identify and apply assessment strategies for adult psychological presentations with brain-based aetiologies.; (3) demonstrate knowledge of, and the ability to apply, international diagnostic classification systems to adult complex psychological presentations, including those with brain-based aetiologies.; and (4) demonstrate the ability to identify and apply evidence-based intervention strategies for adult complex psychological presentations, including those involving brain-based aetiologies..

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) seminar quizzes; (2) written case report-a; (3) attendance of lectures and workshops; and (4) written case report -b. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the attendance of lectures and workshops component.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Assoc Prof Rodrigo Becerra
Unit rules
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
01890/54590 Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Clinical Neuropsychology
or 01870/54570 Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Clinical Psychology
and Successful completion of
two Unit(s) PSYC5672 Foundations in Clinical Skills I
and Unit(s) PSYC5673 Foundations in Clinical Skills II
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC5592 Neuropsychological Assessment
Contact hours
lectures: 8 x 2 hours
workshops: 5 x 4 hours (attendance at classes/workshops is compulsory)
Note
Students enrolled in an APAC accredited program must hold provisional registration as a psychologist. It is the students' responsibility to ensure registration eligibility. Enrolled students are also responsible for maintaining provisional registration for the duration of their enrolment in the program.
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.