Overview

This unit introduces students to the ways in which mental health has been conceptualised over time and an introduction to the diagnostic manual of mental disorders used by psychologists in Australia and around the world. Common mental disorders are introduced and explained in terms of their phenomenology and nosology, as well as theories about aetiology and approaches to treatment. Throughout the unit, cultural and biopsychosocial factors that relate to the classification, diagnosis, and treatment mental disorders are outlined. In sum, the unit develops student understanding in relation to mental health diversity, mental health disorders, and the major psychological treatments used to address them.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSY70015 Developmental Psychology
PSY70013 Social Psychology
PSY70014 Cognition and Human Performance

Rules

Pre-requisite
PSY70015 Developmental Psychology
AND
PSY70013 Social Psychology
AND
PSY70014 Cognition and Human Performance

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
08-July-2024
06-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
21-July-2024
Census date
02-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
23-August-2024
Results released date
29-October-2024
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
04-November-2024
09-February-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-November-2024
Census date
29-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
27-December-2024
Results released date
04-March-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Compare and critique the ways in which human behaviours have been identified as abnormal or dysfunctional.
  • Describe and characterise the classification and features of mental disorders (including phenomenology and aetiology) and explain how they are applied to individual cases.
  • Critically review the biopsychosocial approach to understanding mental disorders and their treatment across a range of contexts.

Teaching methods

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class
1.00 4 weeks 4
Specified Activities
Various
8.00 12 weeks 96
Unspecified Activities
Various
4.17 12 weeks 50
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 40% 1,2,3 
AssignmentIndividual 20% 1,2,3 
ExaminationIndividual 40% 1,2,3 

Content

  • Conceptualising and researching distress and mental health
  • Description and diagnosis of mental disorders across the lifespan
  • Evidence based approaches for treatment of mental disorders

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.