Unit name | Advanced Neuropsychiatry |
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Unit code | PSYCM0048 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1A (weeks 1 - 6) |
Unit director | Professor. Leonards |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Level 6 Psychology Students must not have taken PSYC31053 |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Psychological Science |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Historically, neurology and psychiatry are closely linked. In the last century, abnormal behaviour experienced different explanatory approaches by neurologists (body) and psychiatrists (mind). This unit will provide information on the historical foundation of neuropsychiatry, and consequently, demonstrate that common syndromes of Abnormal Psychology are also observable in patients with circumscribed brain lesions. In particular, this unit will deal with the most prevailing psychiatric phenomena such as major psychoses (schizophrenia, depression), anxiety, obsession, drug addiction, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Further examples are presented to underlie the relationship between focal brain lesions and abnormal behaviour (e.g. phantom limb, out-of-body experiences, hysteria, alien hand syndrome, Capgras delusion, Fregoli delusion). In sum, the current unit intends to contribute to the ongoing body-mind debate, with the specific goal to demonstrate that psychiatric disorders are as organic as established neurological disorders.
On completion of the unit, the students will:
This unit comprises 18 x 50 minute lectures and 5 x 50 minute tutorials.
Summative assessment: one 2000 word essay (30%) and one 2 hour exam (70%)
Every Abnormal Psychology textbook (available from the library, common author names are: i) Davison and Neale, ii) Hansell, and iii) Comer) describes the basic psychiatric syndromes, and importantly here the related symptoms. Every Neuropsychology textbook can help understanding the link between anatomy and function (see 2nd year unit, common authors are Kolb and Whishaw). Examples illustrating psychiatric symptoms from a neurological perspective will be given in each lecture. These references are journal articles available electronically via the library.