Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Course

The Master of Psychological Medicine 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 participants' professional careers. Students will complete a number of core subjects as well as be offered elective subjects in the second and third years in order to reflect the ever-increasing current state of knowledge in psychiatry.

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
• have a broad understanding of the cultural differences that exist in our community and their relationship to its individuals and mental illness.

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.

The course consists of core and elective units.

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
• two electives from the list below

Year 3

• MPM1005 Psychiatry in physical health and illness
• MPM1301 Adult psychiatry II
• 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

Master of Psychological Medicine