PSY8071 Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

Contents

• Staffing
• Requisites
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

REQUISITES

RATIONALE

This course aims to integrate theories of adolescent development into evidence-based practice. Students will work closely with the Queensland Health Child & Youth Mental Health Service and they observe clinicians model a wide range of diagnostic interview, assessment and therapy skills. Students will be required to practice these skills until they can demonstrate competency.

SYNOPSIS

It is assumed that students will come into this course with a sound knowledge of normal child development and theories of human development. The course will expand upon that basic knowledge in an exploration of characteristics, definitions, causes, contexts and outcomes of psychopathology in children. The course will range from early developmental problems through middle and late childhood to early adolescence.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. conduct an in-class interactive therapy workshop of approximately 50 minutes to demonstrate a therapy technique commonly used with children (Assessment 1);
2. demonstrate an understanding of recent therapeutic developments and debates in the field of child psychopathology (Assessment 2);
3. demonstrate an understanding of the principal cognitive, social/ethical, and behavioural psychopathologies that occur in infancy and childhood (Assessment 3).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Mash, EJ & Barkley, RA (eds) 2003, Child psychopathology, 2nd edn, Guilford Press, New York; London.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Gauvain, M & Cole, M (eds) 2000, Readings on the development of children, 3rd edn, WH Freeman, New York.

Mitchell, P & Riggs, KJ (eds) 2000, Children's reasoning and the mind, Psychology Press, Hove.

Ollendick, TH & Hersen, M (eds) 1997, Handbook of child psychopathology, Plenum Press, New York.

Rich, JM & DeVitis, JL (eds) 1994, Theories of moral development, 2nd edn, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

Schroeder, CS & Gordon, BN 2002, Assessment and treatment of childhood problems: a clinician's guide, 2nd edn, The Guilford Press, New York.

Wicks-Nelson, R & Israel, AC 2003, Behavior disorders of childhood, 5th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Students are required to individually research the latest evidence-based psychological treatments for a common childhood disorder and present a 60 minute interactive workshop to the other students and staff of Toowoomba Base Hospital (TBH). Presentations will be scheduled during the third workshop. Check with course examiner for updated workshop 1 date.

2.

Students will complete fortnightly assignments on current readings. Assignments will be set and submitted electronically.

3.

A 90 minute in-class test will be held in the third workshop on the aetiology and psychological treatment of childhood disorder(s). Students will require a good understanding of the set text to answer the questions. Check with course examiner for updated workshop 3 date.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the student's responsibility to participate actively in all scheduled workshops and Web-based activities and to study all course materials, so as to be informed of all course academic and administrative activities and policies, and to maximise his/her chance of meeting the objectives of the course.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grade will be determined by the addition of the marks obtained on each assignment and the in-class test, weighted as indicated in the Assessment Details.
6. Examination information:
   Not applicable.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Not applicable.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 27 May 2008.