UM-NUS Clinical Health Psychology

This subject is not offered in 2016.

85 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject aims to foster a sense of professional competence in health settings through the exploration of relevant assessment issues and advanced treatment approaches and complex clinical practice issues. The subject is concerned with the examination of aspects of clinical health psychology practice and theory with an emphasis on students developing a critical approach to various clinical, professional practice and evaluation issues within the context of medical referrals and health and illness. In addition, the subject will also focus on the management of psychological problems associated with specific medical conditions seen in acute and sub-acute health settings.

Students will have an opportunity to develop expertise in the following areas:

• Recognition, understanding and assessment of psychological responses to illness, hospitalisation, medical treatment and disability;
• Understanding of psychological factors contributing to illness;
• Planning psychological management/treatment of psychological issues found in medical patients (taking into account common issues such as patient adherence to treatment);
• Understanding of common presenting difficulties in medical and acute health settings such as pain, depression, anxiety, medical phobias, fatigue, post traumatic stress, fear of death and dying;
• Gain knowledge of psychological interventions relevant to major medical disorders such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, eating disorders, and neurological conditions;
• Gain an understanding of the nature of the hospital and health care settings; and
• Preparation of patients for surgery.

• Seminar presentation (15 minutes duration), delivered by end of Week 12 (10%)
• Essay (1500 words), due Week 10 (50%)
• Exam (1 hour duration), held during examination period (40%)

Subject will have a pass/fail outcome, and each individual assessment task must be passed in order to acheive a pass outcome for the subject.

Caltabiano, M., & Sarafino, E.P. (2008). Health Psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions. Melbourne: John Wiley & Sons

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Written, oral and communication skills

Analytical, information integration and synthesizing skills