Unit information: Advanced Neuropsychiatry in 2015/16

Unit name	Advanced Neuropsychiatry
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

Description including Unit Aims

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.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the unit, the students will:

• Have developed a thorough understanding of contemporary issues and methodological approaches to the study of Neuropsychiatry.
• Have a comprehensive understanding of the application of these approaches in the literature.
• Have further improved their transferable skills
• Have demonstrated independent study informed by primary sources and knowledge at the forefront of the discipline.
• Have demonstrated Master’s level ability in terms of critical insight, depth of knowledge, independent thought and the ability to propose new hypotheses.

Teaching Information

This unit comprises 18 x 50 minute lectures and 5 x 50 minute tutorials.

Assessment Information

Summative assessment: one 2000 word essay (30%) and one 2 hour exam (70%)

Reading and References

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.