PE4S198 - Psychiatric Disorders in Later Life 01 Feb 2019 - 31 Aug 2031 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PE4S198
Module Title: Psychiatric Disorders in Later Life
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Allied Health and Chiropractic
Faculty Sub Group: Clinical Services
Module Leader: Karl New
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: MAR 2019 Final Year of Intake: 2030
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100260 - healthcare science
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Feb 2019
Valid To 31 Aug 2031

Module Aims

Enhance the unique skills needed for caring for older adults with major psychiatric disorders like depression, delirium, dementia, anxiety, and paranoid states. Update the knowledge and information needed for diagnosis and management, including non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions using the biopsychosocial model and legal framework for mental capacity and relevant medicolegal and ethical issues.

Content Summary

Indicative content to include topics outlined below and/or any other relevant current topics to fulfil the module aims and learning outcomes:

Topics may include:

Hypoactive, hyperactive and mixed delirium.

The clinical features of various types of dementia.

Management of dementia through medication; care in the community.

Emotional disorders in the elderly, with a focus on evidence-based treatment and the biopsychosocial model of management.

The risks of ageing – falls, abuse, frailty, psychosocial aspects.

The principles and use of psychopharmacology in old age, through complex clinical scenarios..

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 40
Seminars 40
Problem/Challenge-based Learning 40
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically analyse and apply current evidence-based developments in the diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders in older adults.
LO2 Evaluate the influence of societal context on the mental health of older people and select appropriate management approaches, including psychopharmacology, within current legal frameworks.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Examination Multiple Choice Questions - Examination (External) Online test 60 N/A 30 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Self Reflective Assessment (CW) 1 Reflective journal 0 1200 10 No 40
Set Exercise - Not Time Constrained (CW) Set Tasks - not-time constrained 1 Case-based scenarios and discussion forum 0 N/A 40 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 Individual and group assignments 0 1200 20 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Multiple Choice Questions - Examination (External)
Self Reflective Assessment (CW) 1
Set Tasks - not-time constrained 1
Essay (CW) 1

Reading List

The module reading list is available to the students to access via electronic links on the learning platform (Moodle).

In addition to the list below, each list is supplemented with up-to-date peer-reviewed journal articles and studies that are continually refreshed as guidelines change and new treatments and technologies emerge.

Additional reading resources are also provided where relevant by the tutors during the running of the module in the discussion forum to keep the reading resources current and relevant.

Core Website:

NICE (2022) Self-harm (Quality standard 34). [Online]

Indicative Module 3 Reading:

Middleton-Green, L., Chatterjee, J., Russell, S. and Downs, M. (2017) End of Life Care for People with Dementia: A Person-Centred Approach. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

NICE (2014) Delirium in adults (Quality standard 63). [Online]

NICE (2015) Dementia, disability and frailty in later life – mid-life approaches to delay or prevent onset (NICE guideline 16). [Online]

Social Care Institute for Excellence (2022) Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) at a glance. [Online]

Tahir, T.A. and Mahajan, D. (2016) 'Delirium', Medicine, 44(12), pp. 724-728.

Taylor, D.M., Barnes, T.R.E. and Young, A.H. (2018) The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry. 13th edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.