PL3S155 - Psychological Disorders and Therapeutic Interventions 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL3S155
Module Title: Psychological Disorders and Therapeutic Interventions
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology
Faculty Sub Group: Youth and Community
Module Leader: Philip Tyson, Sarah Evans
Module Team: Shakiela Davies, Biao Zeng, Kirsty Richards, Alexis Jones, Dan Bowers, Leigh Attwood
First Intended Intake: SEP 2018 Final Year of Intake: 2023
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

To present students with opportunities to evaluate theoretical models of psychological disorders and to critically assess the efficacy of different therapeutic interventions.

Content Summary

This module will use a mix of lectures and workshops to study the different ways in which major perspectives in Psychology and Psychiatry (e.g. developmental, biological, cognitive, social and psychodynamic) conceptualise abnormality. There will be detailed overviews of clinical problems such as; anxiety disorders, eating disorders, developmental disorders, depression and schizophrenia. The course outlines and evaluates clinical practices developed to manage and ameliorate these problems and looks at research evidence supporting therapeutic styles such as drug interventions, behaviour modification, cognitive and behavioural therapy, electro-convulsive therapy, client-centred therapies and psychoanalytic methods. Furthermore, students will explore a variety of debates concerning psychological disorders. This will entail a critical evaluation of classification systems such as the DSM 5 and ICD 11. Students will review the arguments of the antipsychiatry movement and contemporary debates around the diagnosis and management of psychological disorders.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 24
Practical classes and workshops 24
Independent Study 120
Directed Study 32
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically appraise a number of theoretical and practical models aimed at understanding the causes of a wide range of psychological disorders.
LO2 Engage critically with research evidence relating to the efficacy of biologically and psychologically based therapeutic interventions.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Assignment (CW) Critique 1 Part 1: Critical Review of an existing Information Leaflet relating to a mental disorder. Part 2: Research, design and preparation of an Information Leaflet relating to a specific disorder. 0 2500 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 Essay on the efficacy of treatment for an exemplar psychological disorder 0 2500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Critique 1
Essay (CW) 1

Reading List

Plante, T.G. (2005) Contemporary Clinical Psychology. New York: Wiley (Online access)

Davey G (2014) Psychopathology: research, assessment and treatment in Clinical Psychology. BPS Blackwell

Goldberg (2000) Attachment and Development. Arnold

Jones, T. & Tyson, P.J. (2014) Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. Pearson Education

Roth I, Hoekstra R, Pasco G and Whatson T (2010) The Autism Spectrum in the 21st Century: exploring Psychology, biology and practice London: Jessica Kingsley

Plus journals relevant to Clinical and Counselling Psychology, Therapeutic Interventions such as:

Annual Review of Clinical Psychology

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Clinical Psychology Review

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology