Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
?   Display Outline Guidelines      


Effective Term: 2025/02
Institute / School :Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Unit Title: Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Unit ID: PSYCM7016
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): Nil
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 090701
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

This unit aims to build foundational knowledge for working with children and adolescents in psychological practice and to develop knowledge and understanding of common psychological disorders occurring in childhood and adolescence, including knowledge and skills related to diagnosis in addition to aetiology, maintaining mechanisms, assessment and formulation. This unit further aims to introduce students to broad frameworks of psychological intervention and a foundation for understanding the pharmacological management of childhood and adolescent psychological disorders.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component:
Supplementary Assessment:No
Supplementary assessment is not available to students who gain a fail in this Unit.
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                        
Advanced                                                
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Develop a detailed knowledge of high-prevalence child and adolescent psychological disorders.

K2.

Describe developmental and systems factors that impact on the development, maintenance, and management of psychological disorders in children and adolescence.

K3.

Describe, explain and evaluate the process of clinical assessment and diagnostic procedure.

K4.

Evaluate the ethical issues within the assessment and diagnosis of psychological disorders.

K5.

Synthesise and critically evaluate the role of evidence-based assessment and treatment for psychological disorders.

Skills:
S1.

Perform a detailed clinical assessment of child/adolescentdisorders in a peer-reviewed setting.

S2.

Create a detailed diagnosis of child/adolescent psychological disorders based on DSM-5 criteria in conjunction with a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment.

S3.

Critically evaluate the relevant literature to create an informed best-practice/evidenced based approach to clinical assessment and diagnosis.

S4.

Create an evidenced-based formulation and treatment plan for childpsychological disorders.

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Describe, explain and evaluate the process of clinical assessment and diagnostic procedures.

A2.

Evaluate the ethical issues within the assessment and diagnosis of psychological disorders.

A3.

Evaluate the issues associated with each clinician related variables, client related variables and the evidence base in the assessment and diagnosis of psychological disorders.

Unit Content:

Topics may include:

• Assessment and diagnosis of psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence

•Factors impacting the development, maintenance and management of disorders in childhood and adolescence, such as family systems and attachment.


Graduate Attributes:
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 2
Leadership

Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations.

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning.

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities.

3 - N/A
FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life

1 - Yes
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeightingProfessional Standards
1. K1, K2, K4, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3

Examination of unit content, knowledge and skill

Examination

40-60%

2. K1, K3, K5, S1, S2, S4, A3

Evidence based assessment, formulation and treatment plan

Written Report

40-60%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency