Psychopathology, Health and Prevention

Course overview

• Psychopathology and prevention

  Students will develop an in-depth understanding and critical awareness of the presentation, incidence, prevalence of common mental health disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, OCD) and the lifestyle factors (e.g., sleep, social support, physical activity) that contribute to their development across the lifespan. Additionally, students will learn more about what risk- and protective factors play a role in the development of mental health problems, and how these factors may contribute to the prevention of psychopathology.

• Assessment and coaching skills

  Students will develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to patient screening and risk assessment in clinical settings. Specifically, students will learn how to conduct clinical interviews, formulate assessment hypotheses, select and interpret screening instruments, and write an integrated report.

• Diversity in clinical practice

  Students will develop the necessary knowledge, attitudes and competencies to conduct inclusive, values-driven clinical services. Additionally, students will increase their understanding of the impact of diversity topics on all different stages of clinical practice, from information gathering and alliance building to actual treatment delivery, including developing recommendations for good clinical practice in a diverse setting.

• Research tool kit / epidemiology

  Students will synthesize the knowledge that they acquired in their prior research methods and statistical courses in order to develop the skills necessary to independently write a clinically relevant, high quality, and successful research proposal. Additionally, students will learn more about practical and ethical aspects of conducting research in psychology (e.g., data collection and management) and the purpose, scope, and limitations of different research methods and designs (e.g., clinical trials, longitudinal studies).

• Psychopharmacology

  Students will learn about the neurobiological concepts which underlie the psychopharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, students will receive basic and clinical information on the action and use of psychopharmacological substances.

• Low intensity treatments for common mental health problems

  Students will learn theoretical knowledge and practical skills to identify low intensity interventions that aid clinical improvement through the provision of information and support for evidence-based, low-intensity psychological treatment of common mental disorders.