0 points, SCA Band 1, 0.000 EFTSL
Postgraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit
School of Psychological Sciences
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit aims to ensure that students are familiar with disorders that occur during childhood and adolescence. Diagnosis and classification, aetiology of the major disorders occurring in childhood and adolescence, as well as the major forms of treatment and management based on recent research will be covered. Various disorders will be examined including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression.
Students will be expected to develop competence in the application of diagnostic classification systems to children but also will be encouraged to critically evaluate such systems and be aware of their limitations in paediatric populations. A component of this unit will be devoted to formal psychological, especially cognitive, assessment of children and adolescents. Although the major focus of this unit will be on the identification and assessment of disorders and assessment of cognitive abilities in children, the use of various treatment modalities with children, adolescents, and their families will also be discussed with an emphasis on cognitive behavioural approaches.
Outcomes
- At the end of this unit, students will be able to understand the diagnosis, classification, and aetiology of the major disorders occurring in childhood and adolescence;
- Understand the principles of interviewing and assessing children and adolescents;
- Ensure students are competent in the administration of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV);
- Familiarize students with the major forms of treatment and management; and
- Develop student's competencies in writing a clinical case formulation for a child presenting with a clinical developmental disorder.
Assessment
Formulation Report (40%)
WISC-IV Administration and Scoring (Hurdle Requirement)
Take Home Exam (60%)