Course content

An introduction is given into common perspectives when mental problems arise in children and young people and the course relates to students experiences in In-house Clinical Practice 1. The course will impart a critical understanding of central theoretical perspectives in the development, prevention and treatment of the most common mental difficulties faced by children and young people and their empirical basis. The course will also focus on developing and forming a deeper understanding of practical psychological skills in psychotherapy, to provide the basis for advisory work with relatives, teachers, institutional staff etc.

Learning outcome

General learning outcome:
The course provides an introduction to common forms of psychopathology in children and young people, their possible aetiology and their prevention and treatment. An important goal is to promote student interest in the topic, and provide opportunity to identify and explore various relevant issues.
Specific learning outcome:
Towards the end of the course the student should have achieved the following:
Knowledge:
• The student can demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of different clinical conditions in children and adolescents with mental health problems; diagnostic criteria for these, differential diagnosis, and the incidence and risk factors.
• The student has a thorough knowledge about effective treatments for common mental health disorders in children and adolescents.
• The student has knowledge about risk factors for suicidal behavior – including recurrence risk, the characteristics of suicidal behavior, and how this should be investigated.
Skills:
• The student is able to make a reflective and independent assessment of the condition, and possible differential diagnosis.
• The student is able to demonstrate the ability to see the complexity of the case.
• The student is able identify the seriousness of the individual condition.
• The student is able to make a reflective and independent assessment in connection to the use of different treatments of disease.
General competence:
• The student has competence in how to demonstrate the ability to extract and integrate current theory and empirical evidence, both clinical theory/empirical and general psychological knowledge, and generally applied to individual cases.
• The student has competence in how to provide relevant theoretical and research-based clinical knowledge to a wide range of users and professionals.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, seminars and exercises with individual tutorial guidance. Relevant curriculum is chosen for the different stage images, and includes text books, articles and compendium. In addition, relevant supporting literature is set up. Students will be encouraged to be curious about literature, and share tips with each other.

Compulsory assignments

• 80 % compulsory attendance

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

The course requires admission to the 6 year clinical psychologist programme. Passed exam in PSYPRO4041 is required.
Class 34 can be divided into two groups in the spring semester of 2014. One group will take the three children clinic topics PSYPRO4062, PSYPRO4063 and PSYPRO4064 and PSYPRO4074 School and Educational Psychology. The second group, the two adult clinic topics PSYPRO4073 and PSYPRO4076 and PSYPRO4075 Health Psychology, and reverse the fall semester of 2014. A student who has not passed either child or adult clinic courses can not proceed until these have been passed.

Course materials

To be announced when semester starts.

Credit reductions