Course

Unit 1

Introduction to Clinical Psychology and Mental Disorders

Scope and history of clinical psychology. Classification systems: DSM-5 and ICD-11. Symptom patterns, diagnosis, and comorbidities. Epidemiology and aetiology of mental disorders. Developmental and lifespan considerations in psychopathology. Digital assessment apps (PsyToolkit, MindLAMP) for understanding symptom tracking and classification.

Unit 2

Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan

Mental health issues in infants and children: developmental disorders, anxiety, and behavioural problems. Adolescent mental health: mood disorders, eating disorders, self-harm. Adult psychopathology: depression, anxiety, personality disorders, substance use. Mental disorders in the elderly: dementia, late-life depression, bereavement. Gender and cultural considerations in diagnosis and treatment. Virtual case simulations to practice age-specific diagnosis and intervention planning.

Unit 3

Models of Psychopathology and Psychotherapy

Biological, psychological, and sociocultural models. Cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, and humanistic perspectives. Models of onset, maintenance, and course of disorders. The biopsychosocial model. Risk and protective factors. Use Miro/Jamboard to create interactive biopsychosocial maps and model comparisons.

Unit 4

Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Psychodynamic and interpersonal therapies, Third Wave Therapies, Mindfulness and Transcendental Meditation-based Psychotherapies. Humanistic and existential therapies. Therapy structures, goals, and common techniques. Telepsychology role-play platforms and virtual therapy simulations for hands-on experience with therapy techniques.

Unit 5

Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Best Practice Guidelines

Prevention strategies: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Rehabilitation approaches: community-based and clinical settings. Guidelines for best practices: NICE, APA, and WHO recommendations. Therapy adaptation for different age groups and clinical populations. Ethical considerations and therapeutic boundaries. Use beginner-friendly data analysis (Excel, SPSS, Jamovi) to track prevention outcomes and rehabilitation progress.

Text Books / References

Textbooks

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR).
2. Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2018). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
3. Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2021). Abnormal Psychology (14th ed.). Wiley.
4. Corey, G. (2017). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
5. Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2017). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioural sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Suggested Readings

1. Butcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. (2014). Abnormal Psychology (16th ed.). Pearson.
2. Comer, R. J. (2018). Abnormal Psychology (10th ed.). Worth Publishers.
3. Sue, D., Sue, D. W., Sue, D. M., & Sue, S. (2016). Understanding abnormal behaviour (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to clinical psychology and modern psychotherapy. Students learn about the classification, diagnosis, causes, and treatment of mental disorders throughout life. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practices, models of psychological disorder development, intervention guidelines, and practical application for various age and clinical groups. Principles of prevention and rehabilitation are also covered, providing foundational knowledge for working with those experiencing psychological distress.

Course Objectives

• To introduce students to the major mental disorders affecting individuals across different life stages.
• To understand the classification systems, symptom patterns, diagnostic criteria, comorbidities, and epidemiology of mental disorders.
• To examine evidence-based psychotherapy approaches and the theoretical models that guide them.
• To explore current scientific guidelines and best practices for treatment and intervention.
• To understand the principles of prevention and rehabilitation for various psychological conditions across age groups.
• To use beginner-friendly digital tools for assessment, case simulation, and intervention planning.

Course Outcomes

1. CO1: Identify and describe key mental disorders across infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.
2. CO2: Apply classification and diagnostic systems in understanding mental health conditions.
3. CO3: Analyse the models explaining the onset, course, and maintenance of psychological disorders.
4. CO4: Evaluate evidence-based psychotherapy interventions and their structural components.
5. CO5: Demonstrate understanding of prevention and rehabilitation strategies in clinical psychology.

CO-PO Mapping