Master of Psychological Medicine

Course code: 0045 ~ Course abbreviation: MPM ~ Total credit points required: 72 ~ 6 semesters part-time ~ Managing faculty: Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Monash Medical Centre, Clayton; Melbourne University, Parkville - P/T only)

Course description

The Master of Psychological Medicine is a 3-year part time course that is jointly run by the Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash University and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. The course is open to medical practitioners with an identified interest in working with patients with mental illness. The course aims to develop the knowledge and skills of medical practitioners working with patients with mental illness. The course fosters attitudes of tolerance to the diversity within our community and our geographical region, equity to appropriate treatment for all individuals and encourage the practitioner to consider the socio-cultural factors in their interactions with patients and their broader community. The course is designed to encourage the student to explore the theoretical concepts in psychiatry and their relationship to clinical practice. The seminar format of the course, led by a facilitator/lecturer, encourages student participation, self-directed learning, problem solving and the integration of theory with clinical practice. This will hopefully lead to a culture of lifelong learning that will be maintained throughout their professional career. Students will complete a number of core subjects as well as be offered selective subjects in the second and third years in order to reflect the ever-increasing current state of knowledge in psychiatry.

Course objectives

On completion of the course graduates should: be critical thinkers able to pursue lifelong learning and self directed professional development; be educated about the specific attitudes, knowledge and skills needed to effectively work in the area of mental health; be able to conduct research and evaluation in clinical practice; and have a broad understanding of the cultural differences that exist in our community and their relationship to its individuals and mental illness.

Course structure

The course comprises three core units in first year, and two core units and two electives in both second and third years.

Course requirements

Year 1

MPM1001 Foundations of psychiatry
MPM1006 Neuroscience of psychiatry
MPM1009 Personality and human behaviour

Year 2

MPM1003 Child and adolescent psychiatry
MPM1202 Adult psychiatry I
a choice of two electives from the list below

Year 3

MPM1005 Psychiatry in physical health and illness
MPM1301 Adult psychiatry II
a choice of two electives from the list below

Electives

MPM5201 Cognitive behaviour therapy
MPM5202 Advanced skills in primary care and community psychiatry
MPM5203 Drug and alcohol use disorders
MPM5204 Psychiatric ethics, theory and practice
MPM5205 The family in psychiatry - theoretical and practical perspectives
MPM5206 Psychiatry of intellectual and developmental disabilities
MPM5207 Psychopharmacology
MPM5208 Skills in critical appraisal of research; population surveys to qualitative methodologies
MPM5209 Transcultural psychiatry
MPM5210 Forensic psychiatry
MPM5212 Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing

Assessment

Continuous assessment will be based on submission of assignments and critical essays related to the core and elective units being undertaken for the degree. This may be supplemented by written and oral examinations.

Contact details

Postgraduate administrative officer: telephone +61 3 9594 1478; email psychological.medicine@med.monash.edu.au or visit http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/

Course coordinator

Dr Prem Chopra