PSY6208 - Introductory placement and case analysis (clinical neuropsychology) - 2019

This unit aims to begin the process of applying theoretical knowledge acquired in the first year of coursework to the clinical setting. The first component is Case Analysis I and II, which occurs weekly in Year 1 Semester 2 and Year 2 semester 1. Students will observe oral case presentations given by experienced clinicians and other students. They will be exposed to a variety of different presentation styles designed to cater for specific audiences and will learn to evaluate case material in an objective and critical manner. They will participate in discussions of clinical issues and recent developments in the field of Clinical Neuropsychology and will be challenged to remain informed about such developments and issues. They will assess two cases and present them to the class, once in each semester.

In Semester 1 of Year 2 they will commence their introductory placement. It is expected that the focus of the introductory placement will be on gaining confidence and competence in core clinical areas such as assessment skills (eg. Test selection, administration, interpretation), case formulation, and written/oral communication of assessment findings. Students will begin to gain an appreciation of the role of a neuropsychologist in professional practice, how it interacts with other staff in the setting, and the service it provides to the individual and the wider community.

On completion of this unit student will have:

1. Become familiar with the format of oral presentations suitable for a number of different audiences;
2. Become able to participate confidently in case discussions;
3. An improved ability to formulate hypotheses, select appropriate tests, interpret findings, integrate findings to respond to referral questions and formulate a management plan for a variety of neuropsychological referrals;
4. Become more informed about current issues in the field of clinical neuropsychology;
5. Developed sufficient rapport with staff members to seek assistance when it is required during later years of the course;
6. Acquired an understanding of the context of the delivery of the service and the particular function it serves to the individual and the community at large;
7. Developed an appreciation of the competing demands on service delivery and the range of issues which impact on service delivery;
8. Become proficient in establishing rapport with patients, administering and scoring the commonly used intellectual, diagnostic and personality tests, integrating the results and providing appropriate oral and written reports;
9. Developed an understanding of the functioning of a multi-disciplinary team and the role of its various members;
10. Build knowledge and introductory skills in ethics, legal and professional issues relevant to clinical practice.

Case Analysis:

• Case Presentation (Pass/Fail)
• Class Participation (Hurdle Requirement)

Introductory Placement:

• Placement Contract (Hurdle Requirement)
• Mid-Placement Review (Hurdle Requirement)
• Student Diary (Hurdle Requirement)
• Student Case/Logbook (Hurdle Requirement)
• Final Student Assessment Report (Hurdle Requirement)
• Participation in OSCE (Hurdle Requirement)

Psychology