Developmental Psychopathology module (PY40018)

This module offers an introduction to psychological and neurological disturbances and disorders occurring in infancy and childhood, diagnosis of mental disorders from infancy to childhood, and psychological assessment of young children. 
 

What you will learn

In this module you will:

• gain knowledge in the classification, diagnosis, characteristics, and outcome of the most common psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders
• gain skills and insight into how to work with infants and children in research environment
• gain a basic training in psychological testing and observational methods

By the end of this module, you will able to:

• describe the most common developmental psychological disorders
• apply methods how to work with new-borns, infants and children
• conduct a psychological assessment and observation of a preschool aged child, via practicals and the guided field trip

Assignments / assessment

• coursework submission 2,500 words OR policy recommendation (40%)
• written exam (60%)

Teaching methods / timetable

• interactive lectures (weekly, 1 hour)
• practicals/workshops (weekly, 1 hour)
• field trip to participating nurseries

Specific topics covered include:

• observation and assessment of new-borns, infants, preschool aged children and their families
• foetal psychology and infant mental health
• attachment disorders
• eating and sleeping problems
• failure to thrive
• how to recognise and assess the impact of child and infant maltreatment and neglect
• postpartum depression of the parent and its impact on infant and child development
• autism spectrum disorders
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)