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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Psychological Health,Difficulties & Disorders
Module Code PSYC402 (ITS) / PSY1046 (Banner)
Faculty Science & Health School Psychology
Module Co-ordinatorÁine Travers
Module TeachersBrian Slattery, Catherine Fassbender, Darragh McCashin, Lorraine Boran, Pamela Gallagher
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Repeat examination
Description

The aim of this module is to enable students to critically discuss issues pertinent to mental health and illness, including the conceptualisation, assessment and treatment of a range of psychological difficulties and disorders.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically consider historical and contemporary conceptualisations of mental health and illness
2. Understand and appraise the diagnostic systems and assessment methods used by psychologists to identify psychological difficulties and disorders
3. Discuss the epidemiology, clinical features, etiology and treatment approaches for common psychological disorders
4. Critically evaluate research and practice in the area including key ethical issues in mental health service delivery



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture30REMOTE ASYNCHRONOUS LECTURE 20; REMOTE SYNCHRONOUS SEMINAR 10
Tutorial4Group work and additional supports
Assignment Completion46Independent Assessment preparation
Independent Study45Independent lecture and seminar preparation
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Group project Group presentation of a poster concerning issues relevant to understanding mental health and illness (Individual contribution).30%n/a
EssayIndividual essay based on a psychological health issue.70%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Kring, A. & Johnson, S.: 2022, Abnormal psychology: the science and treatment of psychological disorders, 15th Edition - DSM-5-TR Update, Wiley,
  • Carr, A.: 2006, The handbook of child and adolescent clinical psychology: a contextual approach, 2nd Edition, Routledge,
  • Carr, A. & McNulty, M.: 2016, The handbook of adult clinical psychology: an evidence based practice approach, 2nd Edition, Routledge,
  • Hooley, J., Nock, M. & Butcher, J.: 2021, Abnormal psychology, 18th Edition, Pearson,
  • Kelly, B.: 2016, Hearing voices: the history of psychiatry in Ireland, Irish Academic Press,
  • Nathan, P.E. & Gorman, J.A.: 2015, A guide to treatments that work, 4th Edition, Oxford University Press,
  • Oltmanns, T.F.: 2012, Case studies in abnormal psychology, 9th Edition, Wiley,
  • Pilgrim, D. & Rogers, A.: 1999, A sociology of mental health and illness, 2nd Edition, Open University Press,
  • Wampold, B.E. & Imel, Z.E.: 2015, The great psychotherapy debate : the evidence for what makes psychotherapy work, 2nd Edition, Routledge,
Other Resources

None

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