Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)

Transcription

1 Module 1: Clinical Psychology Theory Syllabus Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)

2 Module 1: Clinical Psychology Theory Courses: Course type Semester hours ECTS Semester Paradigms of Clinical Psychology VO Abnormal Psychology VO Intervention in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy VO Intervention Methods A SE Psychological Diagnostics and Psychological VO Assessment A The seminar Intervention Methods replaces the seminar Systems-theoretical Thinking and Systemic Action within the course program originally accredited for Vienna. Due to the alignment of the seminar content with the lecture content of Intervention in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, the lecture functioning as introduction is moved to the 1 st semester and the seminar as practical orientation to the 2 nd. Workload: Frequency: Choices: Prerequisites: Duration: Size of groups: 15 ECTS / 5 SWS 375 work hours; of these 150 units (= hours) attendance annual none none 1 st to 2 nd semester Seminar: divide from n = 15 onwards

3 Paradigms of Clinical Psychology VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: three hours of lecture per week; additional readings (two hours reading per week of subject related specialized literature, which serves on the one hand as prerequisite for understanding content presented within the lecture, and on the other hand as additional readings with which students specify, deepen, but also broaden their understandings of respective course contents); preparation for examination. At the end of the course the students will: have an in-depth overview of the most important paradigms of clinical psychology; have knowledge on similarities and differences of the discussed paradigms with respect to their understanding of aetiology, diagnosis and the derived forms of clinical interventions; are familiar with selected basic texts of these paradigms; be able to critically reflect upon the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches and will be able to argue accordingly; be familiar with strategies and methods of research on effectiveness in clinical psychology and psychotherapy; be up to date on the current state of research. The seven paradigms below will be presented and discussed with special focus on the following aspects: (a) historical development; (b) basic assumptions in regard to aetiology resp. classification; (c) intervention techniques; (d) empirical studies; (e) critical assessment: Biological-medical paradigm; Psychodynamic paradigm; Learning theory paradigm; Cognitive paradigm; Humanistic-existentialist Paradigm; Systemic Paradigm; Sociocultural Paradigm; An integrative model, which aims at linking various single aspects of the seven previously discussed paradigms, is introduced at the end of the semester. Written final examination (on course content and additional readings).

4 Abnormal Psychology VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: three hours of lecture per week; additional readings (two hours reading per week of subject related specialized literature, which serves on the one hand as prerequisite for understanding content presented within the lecture, and on the other hand as additional readings with which students specify, deepen, but also broaden their understandings of respective course contents); preparation for examination. At the end of the course the students will: have a critical understanding of what a mental disorder is (critical reflections and some historical perspectives on how abnormal behaviour is defined, by whom and when; power relations between normal and abnormal persons; social behaviours and the abnormal in institutions etc.); have an in-depth overview of the most salient mental disorders; be familiar with classification, epidemiology, aetiology and pathogenesis, and general therapeutic intervention and prevention forms in reference to the most salient mental disorders; have an insight into the specific experience persons with mental disorders may encounter; have knowledge on the current status of research on epidemiology, diagnostic instruments, and therapeutic strategies; will be familiar with limitations and possibilities of research methods usually applied within the field of psychotherapy and clinical psychology; be able to critically evaluate the methods applied in research studies on therapy; have knowledge of the health care system (institutional contexts), especially in Italy; will be able to critically assess the limitations and possibilities of current general health care models in respect to recovery and prevention. Critical introduction and historical overview of abnormal psychology (what is abnormal, who defines what is normal and what not, how has it been defined historically, how do power relations play a role, how are abnormal people handled and what are some consequences, stigmatization etc.); The following selected disorders are presented and discussed with the aid of concrete examples (detailed case histories) and with a focus on classification, epidemiology, aetiology and pathogenesis, and psychotherapeutic respectively clinical-psychological intervention and prevention forms: Substance induced disorders, Schizophrenia, Affective disorders (including suicide), Anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders, Posttraumatic stress- and dissociative disorders, Personality disorders, Eating disorders,

5 Sexual disorders; Canonical studies and text on the above listed mental disorders are presented specifically discussing limitations and possibilities of the research design; Introduction and overview of current health care models (foremost in Italy, but also with reference to new trends in Europe and the USA); Some historical developments of the mental health system and underlying power relations and social problems within institutions and between professionals, the lay public and persons diagnosed with a mental disorder (e.g. stigmatization); Current empirical findings on recovery models and prevention strategies in relation to possibilities and limitations within the health care system. Written final examination (on course content and additional readings).

6 Intervention in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Intervention Methods VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; SE 2 SWS; 3 ECTS The students are expected to fulfil: Lecture: three hours of lecture per week; additional readings (two hours reading per week of subject related specialized literature, which serves on the one hand as prerequisite for understanding content presented within the lecture, and on the other hand as additional readings with which students specify, deepen, but also broaden their understandings of respective course contents); preparation for examination. Seminar: the students are assigned exercises as independent home-works conceptualizing intervention strategies with real life case histories; presentation of their intervention strategies within the seminar group; written final report. At the end of the course the students will: have an in-depth overview of various intervention techniques of clinical psychology in different settings such as: psycho-social prevention, crisis intervention (e.g. suicide), counselling, psychotherapy; have an in-depth overview of planning, implementation, and evaluation of therapeutic intervention techniques in regard of different approaches of cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy; be familiar with initial requirements, demands and the differences of inpatient and outpatient settings; have an in-depth overview of special aspects concerning child and youth psychotherapy; be able to plan the implementation of clinical-psychological interventions in divers fields of application with the examples of real life case histories; be familiar with quality management within clinical psychological interventions and will be able to implement appropriate measures according to the various demands specific to different situations; will have an understanding of limitations and possibilities of various intervention forms; will be familiar with canonical text and current empirical studies on intervention forms with special focus on prevention and empowerments. Introduction: clinical psychological intervention strategies; Intervention strategies within health care institutions und psych-social-prevention; Intervention strategies in different forms of counselling; Overview: Intervention strategies in psychotherapy; 65

7 Cognitive behavioural Therapy: Examples; Inpatient vs. outpatient settings; Clinical psychological interventions for children and youths; Canonical and current studies on intervention forms with special emphasis on prevention and empowerment; Possibilities and limitations of different intervention forms (contrasts and comparisons of long term and acute intervention forms); Case based learning: designing, implementing and evaluating intervention strategies. Lecture: written final examination (on course content and additional readings) Seminar: homework (case based learning): step by step planning and presentation of concrete intervention strategies with reference to a real life case history; written concepts as preparation for discussion in seminar; final report on all cases.

8 Psychological Diagnostics and Psychological Assessment VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: three hours of lecture per week; additional readings (two hours reading per week of subject related specialized literature, which serves on the one hand as prerequisite for understanding content presented within the lecture, and on the other hand as additional readings with which students specify, deepen, but also broaden their understandings of respective course contents); preparation for examination. At the end of the course the students will: have an in-depth overview of various diagnostic methods being used in different fields of application in clinical psychology and psychotherapy; know when, how and under what conditions specific diagnostic methods are applied and will be able to apply them accordingly; be familiar with a selection of disorder-specific differential diagnostic procedures; know how to translate a diagnostic problem into a psychological issue (selection of suitable variables); be able to conduct a diagnostic interview; be able to plan step by step the procedure of a clinical psychological diagnosis; know how to compile a written report to a diagnostic assessment; know how to conduct systematic observations as part of a clinical psychological diagnosis and will be able to conduct them accordingly; be aware of the possible sources for error in the process of clinical diagnosis and will able to avoid these; will be familiar with the current state of research in selected topics relevant for diagnostics (e.g. computer based assessments, assessments of specific learning disabilities, risk of stigmatization through assessment, assessment as first intervention step); will have an in-depth understanding of and be able to apply research methods relevant for psychological diagnostics; will be able to critically asses current diagnostic methods, have an understanding of their possibilities and limitations and will be able to further develop current assessment technics considering multiple aspects (e.g. benefits and obstacles of psychological assessments in clients homes vs. in hospital settings in relation to stigmatization, financial aspects, accuracy and validity of assessment etc.). In-depth overview of the most important methods of personality diagnostics in clinical psychology (including practical exercises); Structured (diagnostic) interviews; Behaviour observations and problem analysis; Diagnostics and differential diagnostics with specific disorders (exercises with relevant diagnostic procedures, critical discussion of written case reports);

9 Clinical vs. statistical judgement; Psychological assessment based on European guidelines for creating psychological reports; Possibilities and limitations of current psychological diagnostic methods; Common possible sources of error during psychological assessments and how to avoid these; Selected current debates within clinical psychological diagnostic research, current empirical findings and canonical studies (e.g. computer based assessments, assessments of specific learning disabilities, risk of stigmatization through assessment, assessment as first intervention step); Advances assessment of the most relevant current research methods in psychological diagnostics, possibilities and limitations. Active participation in practical exercises during the course; written final examination (on course content and additional readings).

10 Module 2: Advanced Subject Areas Courses: Course type Semester hours ECTS Semester Basics of Psychiatry and Neurology VO Biological Psychology SE Rehabilitation of Chronic Diseases VO Health Psychology SE Psychotherapeutic Intervention Part I A VO Psychotherapeutic Intervention Part II A SE A Lecture and seminar Psychotherapeutic Intervention Part I and II can be substituted by Rehabilitation of Chronic Disabilities and Health Psychology. Workload: Frequency: Choices: Prerequisites: Duration: Size of groups: 14 ECTS / 10 SWS 350 work hours; of these 150 units (= hours) attendance annual none none 1 st to 2 nd semester Seminar: Divide from n = 15 onwards

11 Basics of Psychiatry and Neurology VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: two hours of lecture per week; additional readings (two hours reading per week of subject related specialized literature, which serves on the one hand as prerequisite for understanding content presented within the lecture, and on the other hand as additional readings with which students specify, deepen, but also broaden their understandings of respective course contents); preparation for examination. At the end of the course the students will: be familiar with the historical developments of psychiatry, decisive movements and underlying assumptions of mankind and illnesses that shape current trends in psychiatry; be able to compare and contrast biological/medical approaches to social/humanistic standpoints (with reference to underlying assumption of mankind, diagnostics, possibilities and limitations of resulting treatments, recovery processes, and implications for institutional handlings and social issues such as social stigma, social impairments, empowerment, integration in the work force etc.); have an overview of the basic concepts and main issues of current psychiatric and neurological research areas; be able to connect current psychiatric and neurologic research trends and resulting implications to modern approaches of psychiatric and neurological treatments; have an overview of psychiatric and neurologic disorders and are able to describe them in detail; have an in-depth understanding of specific psychiatric disorders; be familiar with psychiatric diagnostic methods; have a general overview of various psychiatric treatment methods; have an understanding of social psychiatry and an awareness of alternative treatment methods; have an overview of current medical and non-medical treatments of psychiatric and neurologic disorders, including an understanding of limitations and possibilities of both medical and non-medical treatments and be sensitive to their implications for the patients (side-effects, recidivism, social impairment etc.); are able to understand psychopathological or neurological assessments (reports) and their implications for the patient; Historical overview of the development of psychiatry with special attention to the Italian psychiatry reform and some implications for psychiatry world-wide (with reference to the main canonical texts); Overview of and introduction to the main psychiatric paradigms (with reference to selected specialized readings comparing and contrasting main aspects of the medical paradigm with aspects of the humanistic paradigm);

12 Implications of different paradigms for the patients well-being (from assessment, treatment and recovery to prevention and empowerment) in relation to social awareness, institutionalization and personal dealings; Relating underlying paradigms and economic factors to current research trends and implications of these to specific fields of application (e.g. pointing to some connections between a biological standpoint of human-kind and capitalism with the pharmaceutical industry and new medical treatments in hospitals); Nosology: Concepts of mental illness and mental disorders in psychiatry (based on ICD 10 and DSM 5); Symptoms, epidemiology and the course of psychiatric disorders; Psychiatric diagnostics and psychiatric assessments (with examples of real life cases studies); Psychiatric strategies of treatment (both medical and non-medical, limitations and possibilities of both with a special focus on encompassing implications for the patient, e.g. physical side effects, social and work related, personal well-being); Special aspects: Suicide (prevention and early indications), Crisis intervention, Recovery and long-term recidivism prevention; Multi-professional teams in psychiatric clinics and community mental health teams; Cooperation between intra- und extramural sectors; Basic concepts of neurology. Written final examination (on course content and additional readings).

13 Biological Psychology SE 3 SWS; 4 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: three hours of lecture per week; additional readings of subject related specialized literature; independently prepared presentation on a selected topic area relevant to the seminar. At the end of the course the students will: have an in-depth understanding of psycho-pharmaceutical drugs and their modes of action; have in-depth knowledge in selected areas of psychopharmacology; know about the disorder-specific applications of various psycho-pharmaceutical drugs; know the main side effects of various psychotropic drugs; be familiar with the problems of general and specific indication of psychiatric therapy; be aware of the possibilities and limitations of the combination of psychopharmaceutical therapy and psychotherapy; be able to critically evaluate the therapeutic consequences of psycho-pharmaceutical based therapy; know the mechanisms and mode of action of psychotropic substances; have general knowledge on locating brain structures neuroanatomically (using computer visualization). Psychopharmacology general introduction to modes of action and effects of various groups of drugs; Presenting case histories for clinical application (written case histories and becoming acquainted with actual patients); Psycho-pharmaceutical based therapy and psychotherapy; Effects of psychotropic substances; Altered states of consciousness Functional neuroanatomy (exercises using computer visualization). Active participation in group work; individual review of a selected topic relevant to the course; presentation (with the aid of specialized presentation techniques).

14 Rehabilitation of Chronic Diseases VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: two hours of lecture per week; additional readings (two hours reading per week of subject related specialized literature, which serves on the one hand as prerequisite for understanding content presented within the lecture, and on the other hand as additional readings with which students specify, deepen, but also broaden their understandings of respective course contents); preparation for examination. At the end of the course the students will: have an in-depth overview of most salient chronic diseases; be familiar with implications and the significance that chronic disease have for the patient and relatives; know about the psychological consequences a person faces after necessarily changing their life style for rehabilitation purposes; understand the social implications a chronic disease has for the patient; be familiar with disease specific rehabilitation models; know how to implement rehabilitation measures (crisis prevention; symptom control, develop and implement treatment plans, psychosocial adaptation to changing disease patterns and supporting self-acceptance and competence development); know how to evaluate rehabilitation measures; be familiar with the current state of research regarding the care of chronic diseases; be familiar with terminal care possibilities (mainly institutional); have knowledge on the proper handling of severely or terminally ill patients. Introduction: Basic of rehabilitation psychology; Chronic and terminal diseases (general basics of medicine; specific psychological consequences, intervention strategies): Cardiovascular disease, Cancer diseases, Metabolic diseases, Orthopaedic diseases, Psychiatric diseases; Death and dying: handling terminally ill patients. Written final examination (on course content and additional readings).

15 Health Psychology SE 3 SWS; 4 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: three hours of lecture per week; additional readings of subject related specialized literature; independently prepared presentation on a selected topic area relevant to the seminar; final-term paper (essay on a selected topic relevant to Health psychology). At the end of the course the students will: have an overview of the field of Health Psychology; understand the important roles that health psychologists are playing in disease prevention and health promotion at the individual, community and national levels; be familiar with central health problems, that are common in industrialized nations; are aware of the cultural, social, emotional and economic factors that influence health status, diseases and treatment outcomes; are aware of divers health problems that occur at different points during the course of life; are familiar with the current state of research on these different life span health problems and know of various intervention forms; can identify social and psychological mechanisms that influence physical health; know about the role of behaviour in Health Risks and outcomes and about prevention and intervention efforts in health behaviour; can independently review theories and empirical studies concerning selected areas of health psychology; have an in-depth knowledge on the scientific methods employed by health psychologists and have acquired basic conceptual skills for interpreting and critically. Introduction to the field of health psychology; Mind-body-problem; psychophysical basis of health; Believing and healing; Patient empowerment: myth and misconceptions; Personality and health; Stress and coping strategies; Eating and food; physical activities; sexual health; Doctor-patient-communication; Health economics. Participation in class discussions; independently prepared presentation on a selected topic area relevant to the seminar; final term paper (essay).

16 Psychotherapeutic Interventions Part I: Theory Part II: Practice VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; SE 3 SWS; 4 ECTS The students are expected to fulfil: Lecture: two hours of lecture per week; additional readings of subject related specialized literature; preparation for examination. Seminar: participation in class discussions of paper cases, video recordings of therapy processes, case vignettes; independently written review of selected case histories; final term paper on certain aspects of therapy processes (e. g. on transference and countertransference) using the material discussed in class. At the end of the course the students will: have an in-depth overview of theories of intervention strategies in different psychotherapy schools; know whether and how intervention techniques are legitimized in various schools of psychotherapy; know about the empirical foundation of school-specific intervention strategies; have an in-depth overview of current state of empirical research on effective factors in psychotherapy; have an in-depth knowledge of basic concepts in research on psychotherapeutic processes; can critically analyse psychotherapeutic processes using written reports of case histories, video recordings and case vignettes; will be able to formulate a final term paper on specific psychotherapeutic processes according to scientific standards. Intervention techniques in different psychotherapeutic schools: technical instruments in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy, humanistic-existentialist psychotherapy, systemic psychotherapy; Examples of school-specific psychotherapeutic intervention forms and their direct and indirect effects using written documentation of case histories, video recordings and case vignettes; Theories concerning the therapeutic factors in psychotherapy: specific vs. nonspecific factors; Empirical findings. Lecture: written final examination (on course content and additional readings).

17 Seminar: participation in class discussions; independently prepared presentation on a selected topic area relevant to the seminar; final term paper (essay). 76

18 Module 3: Research Methods Courses: Research Methods and Evaluation Quantitative Methods I Research Methods and Evaluation Qualitative Methods I Research Methods and Evaluation Quantitative Methods II Research Methods and Evaluation Quantitative Methods II Course type Semester hours ECTS Semester VO/UE VO/UE VO VO/UE Workload: Frequency: Choices: Prerequisites: Duration: Size of groups: 12 ECTS / 8 SWS 300 work hours; of these 120 units (= 90 hours) attendance annual none none; it is recommended that the sequence of courses (Part I before Part II) is followed 1 st to 2 nd semester Exercises: divide from n = 15 onwards 77

19 Research Methods and Evaluation Quantitative Methods Part I and II VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: Lectures: one to two hours of lecture per week; preparation for examination. Exercises: students are assigned exercises as independent home-works, in which complex statistical methods are applied to recently collected datasets (of current and on-going empirical studies conducted by University research staff). At the end of the course students will: have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice of multivariate analysis and especially of regression analysis techniques; know about the possibilities and limits of the application of these various methods; be able to apply these method independently to project-specific datasets (SPSS); be able to critically asses the application of the presented method in empirical studies (especially in terms of their correct application); be able to independently design complex research hypotheses and translate them into an appropriate research design with reference to the presented method. The following methods will be presented at length: Linear regression; Binary logistic regression; Multinomial regression, Cluster analysis; Data analysis in AMOS; GLM1 to GLM5; MANOVA; Discriminant analysis; Path models (AMOS); Confirmatory factor analysis (AMOS); LISREL-models (AMOS); Cox regression; Power analysis. Exercise: Number and quality of independently completed assignments; active participation in presenting the assigned examples during the exercise sessions. Lecture: written final examination (on course content and additional readings): 2 theory related questions, 1 question on comprehension, 1interpretation related question. 78

20 Research Methods and Evaluation Qualitative Methods Part I and II VO 2 SWS; 3 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: Lectures: one to two hours of lecture per week; preparation for examination; Exercises: In reference to the lecture contents students are assigned individual homework exercises, in which they are required to conduct qualitative research analyses on the basis of real data material. At the end of the course the students will: be able to individually apply qualitative research methods on project specific data sets; be able to independently develop their own research questions and research designs on the basis of the presented qualitative research methods; have gained an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice of reconstructive qualitative interpretations based on the Documentary Method; be able to differentiate between qualitative methods that are focused on one level of meaning and reconstructive qualitative methods focused on two levels of meaning (e.g. understand the methodological differences between group discussions and focus groups); know about the possibilities and limits of the application of qualitative research methods; be able to critically evaluate the correct application of qualitative research methods within empirical studies. Consolidation of the theoretical and practical understanding of qualitative research methodologies; Emphasis on specific methodological problems and application scenarios; Qualitative text interpretation of interviews, group discussions etc.; Special focus on innovative reconstructive interpretation methods (qualitative picture and video interpretation). Exercise: Number and quality of independently completed assignments; active participation in presenting the assigned examples during the exercise sessions. Lecture: written final examination (on course content and additional readings): theoretical questions, questions relating to the critical reflection of qualitative research methodology, questions regarding the interpretation of case material. 79

21 Module 4: Framework Conditions Courses: Course type Semester hours ECTS Semester History of Applied Psychology VO Social and Ethical Issues VO Workload: Frequency: Choices: Prerequisites: Duration: Size of groups: 4 ECTS / 4 SWS 100 work hours; of these 60 units (= 45 hours) attendance annual none none 1 st to 2 nd semester all students

22 History of Applied Psychology VO 2 SWS; 2 ECTS; The students are expected to fulfil: two hours of lecture per week; additional readings of subject related specialized literature, which serves on the one hand as prerequisite for understanding content presented within the lecture, and on the other hand as additional readings with which students specify, deepen, but also broaden their understandings of respective course contents; preparation for examination. Course objective: At the end of the course students will: have a general overview of the history of applied psychology; know the difference between claims or requirements for practical relevance and the actual development of occupational fields; be familiar with the different developments and trajectories of applied psychology in Europe and in the USA; know the close connection between social/political developments and the developments of the different fields of applied psychology; have an understanding of the fact that wars (especially World War I and World War II) have particularly played a major role in establishing favourable conditions for the development of applied psychology; therefore also know about the ethical problems related to the development of various fields of application (e.g. the incorporation of psychological knowledge within the socalled children euthanasia program during the Nazi period); be able to critically reflect upon the political context of professional psychological practice. Psychology within the context of criminal law and the general justice system; Psychology within schools (from developing intelligence test over Meumann experimental pedagogy to modern school and educational psychology); Psychology within the military context: World War I: psycho-mechanics World War I: testing US soldiers for intelligence World War II: development of the so-called Wehrmachtspsychologie; Psychology within the industrial context: industrial psycho-mechanics; On the history of the professionalization of Psychoanalyse; History of clinical psychology. Written final examination (on course content and additional readings).