6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 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 Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Co-requisites
Must be enrolled in M6022 Master of Psychiatry stream
Notes
This unit will be undertaken in the first year of course.
Synopsis
This unit will introduce and prepare students in psychiatric essentials such as introduction to, epidemiology, aetiology, neurobiology, and principles of diagnostic paradigms, assessment and management of major categories of mental disorders such as affective, psychotic, anxiety, substance use and cognitive disorders.
The foundation skills in identifying, diagnosing and managing major clinical disorders thus acquired will essentially underpin a student's progress towards becoming a specialist psychiatrist in any modality and the skills learnt in Year 1 will likely sweep across the trainee's entire learning career.
This foundation unit will provide a sound academic platform for the trainee's clinical training. The Formal Education Course (FEC) requirement of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) identifies "an awareness of concepts", "working knowledge" or "in-depth knowledge" of the major clinical disorders within the first 3 years of psychiatry training and this unit is uniquely positioned to enable the student meet these requirements.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of mental illness diagnosis, assessment and treatment to a standard required for psychiatrists in training in mental health settings
- Analyse and integrate an understanding of the biological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of people experiencing a mental illness
- Apply knowledge of the complex interaction between mental health, physical illness, medications, illicit substances, family and social systems impacting mental wellbeing of a person
- Critically evaluate the evidence base for treatment approaches such as psychopharmacology and psychotherapy for various psychiatric disorders
Assessment
- 4 x Online commentaries (500 words each) (30% total) (hurdle)
- Written essay (2,000 words) (30%)
- Applied Learning Exercise (2,000 words) (30%)
- Presentation at Weekend Workshop (10%) (Hurdle)
Workload requirements
12 hours per week - 3 hours of lectures, 3 hours of directed online student learning activities, plus 6 hours of self-directed study per week.
Participation in a two-day residential interactive workshop experience (9:00 am - 5:00 pm on campus) to demonstrate that application of theory to practice is mandated.
See also Unit timetable information