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Understanding mental health and its disorders: a transdiagnostic approach - PSY00119M

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  • Department: Psychology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Scott Cairney
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

Are all mental health disorders a reflection of similar underlying problems? This module explores the emerging and growing consensus that transdiagnostic approaches (i.e., focusing on commonalities across different mental health diagnoses, rather than differences between them) are necessary to improve understanding, classification and treatment of psychiatric conditions. Students will learn about the factors shared across people with different mental health diagnoses (e.g., memory problems, sleep disturbances, risk genes) and how these contribute to the development, persistence and resolution of various psychiatric conditions, including major depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The module content will draw on neurobiology, cognitive psychology and psychiatry to provide students with an extensive, interdisciplinary understanding of the relevant theoretical perspectives. Alongside this theoretical knowledge, students will learn how transdiagnostic approaches feed into evidence-based treatments and clinical practice. The module will be delivered through a combination of formal lectures, small group-based activities (with presentations focused on the critical evaluation of scientific papers) and debates focused on emergent issues in transdiagnostic mental health research.

Module learning outcomes

  • To demonstrate a critical understanding of the limitations of current diagnostic systems for characterising mental health conditions, and explain how transdiagnostic approaches can overcome some of these limitations.
  • To critically evaluate the latest studies providing evidence for neurobiological and cognitive vulnerabilities that cut across traditional diagnostic boundaries, and relate these findings to theoretical models of mental health development and maintenance.
  • To appraise how both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to mental health problems, and gauge the role of sociocultural factors in mental health.
  • To assess the ways in which a transdiagnostic approach to mental health can be incorporated in psychological therapies and clinical practice, and the mechanisms leading to improved patient outcome.

Module content

  • Transdiagnostic approaches: what are they and why do we need them?
  • Emotion regulation and mental health
  • Disordered memory, disordered mind
  • The mental health function of sleep
  • Risk genes to clinical presentation
  • Sociocultural and environmental perspectives
  • Psychological therapy and clinical practice
  • Digital technologies and interventions
  • Precision and personalised medicine
  • Revision session

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Understanding mental health and its disorders: a transdiagnostic approach		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Understanding mental health and its disorders: a transdiagnostic approach		 N/A 100

Module feedback

The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision.

Indicative reading

N/A


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.