Unit information: Neuropsychology of psychological disorders across a lifespan in 2021/22

Unit name	Neuropsychology of psychological disorders across a lifespan
Unit code	EDUC30042
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Howard-Jones
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Y2 unit: Biological Psychology & Developmental Disorders
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides students with a grounding in key concepts related to studying, assessing and treating patients with psychological disorders across a lifespan from a neuropsychological perspective. Students will be provided with a broad understanding of potential biological causes, and their interaction with environmental ones; modes of neuropsychological assessments; and targeted behavioural and psychopharmacological interventions.

Students will be guided in understanding and evaluating the interrelation between biological and wider psychosocial causes of psychological disorders, considering disorders with varying contributions of each, such as addictive disorders (significant biological contribution) and personality disorder (significant psychosocial contribution). Students will develop an in depth understanding of five key categories of psychological symptoms and disorders (addictive disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, neurodegenerative disorders and neurocognitive consequences of stroke) with a focus on neuropsychological explanations, alongside developmental, social and environmental contributors.

Students will be prompted to consider the appropriate application of assessment and intervention, and the implications of accurate diagnoses and intervention pathways (medical versus behavioural). Throughout, students will be required to consider the ethical issues inherent in this sensitive field, and develop a good range of skills in the critical evaluation and interpretation of research.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate that they:

1. Understand the complex profile of potential causes of a range of common psychological disorders from biological and wider psychosocial perspectives; 

2. Understand the interrelated and complementary nature of biological and wider psychosocial perspectives on common psychological disorders, and are able to critically interrogate theoretical and experimental claims from such sources 

3. Understand key neuropsychological assessment tools and interventions, and are able to identify and justify their appropriate application; 

4. Are able to evaluate the relevance of biopsychological explanations of common psychological disorders for policy and practice, with specific reference to developing appropriate interventions; 

5. Have an awareness of the ethical issues and practices in the field. 


Teaching Information

This unit will be taught using a blended approach consisting of a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities including seminars, lectures, reading and discussions. This blended approach will be equivalent to 1 x two-hour weekly lecture and 1 x one-hour practical class in face to face taught terms

Assessment Information

One assessment point: - 3000 word research proposal = 100% (ILOs 1-5)

Students will select one of the five core psychological disorders covered throughout the series for which to write a research proposal developing a novel intervention. Students will describe current knowledge on the symptom profile, causes and intervention pathways of the chosen disorder. Students will then propose a new intervention (or extension of current interventions), and considering experimental rigour, describe how the success of that intervention will be established. Students will present hypotheses with respect to standing literature, and ethical considerations associated with such a project.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EDUC30042).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.