Forensic Psychiatry

Subject PSYT90016 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 6.25
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

May, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 6 weeks x 3.5 hour seminars
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: .
Corequisites: .
Recommended Background Knowledge: .
Non Allowed Subjects: .
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Ms Ros Hendy, roslynjh@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview: The interaction between a mental disorder and offending behaviour is important not just for forensic mental health specialists but for all of those who work with the mentally disordered. Clinicians need to develop the skills to balance the needs of patients with those of the legal system and the safety of the community. This elective will attempt to acquaint students with the nature of the relationships between mental disorder and deviant (including criminal) behaviours. It will provide an introduction to current evidence-based approaches to assessing and managing risk of future violence. The course will also look at specific forms of deviant behaviour, in particular sexual offending and stalking behaviours, in order to illustrate the interactions between deviant and potentially damaging behaviours and disorders of the mind. The overall objective of the course will be to introduce students to those aspects of forensic mental health which will be of general applicability in psychiatric practice.
Objectives: .
Assessment: The unit is assessed through a combination of attendance and particiaption at the seminars (20%) and a 2500 word critical review of the literature in a relevant area chosen by the student (80%).
Prescribed Texts:

Drake, C R & Pathe M (2004) Understanding Sexual Offending in Schizophrenia, Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 14, 108-120.

Gunn J & Taylor P (eds) Forensic Psychiatry: Clinical, Legal and Ethical Issues. Butterworth Heinemann. 1993.

Mullen P, Pather M & Purcell R (2001) The Management of Stalkers: Advances in Psychiatric treatment, 7, 335-342.

Otto R K (2000) Assessing and Managing Violence Risk in Outpatient Settings. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(10), 1239-1262.

Wallace C, MullenP, Burgess P, Palmer S, Rushing D & Browne C (1998) Serious Criminal Offending and Mental Disorder: Case Linkage Study. Br J Psychiatry, 172, 477-484

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Related Course(s): Master of Psychiatry

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