Course content

An introduction into common perspectives of mental problems among children and young people is given, as well as assessment and treatment of these.The course will relate to the experiences that the students are doing in therapy training (PSYPRO4062), and dialogue between students and the lecturer will be key issues. The course aims to promote critical understanding of key theoretical perspectives on development, prevention and treatment of the most common mental health problems in children and adolescents and their empirical basis. The course will also focus on the development and specialization in terms of practical psychological skills in psychotherapy, as well as providing a basis for counseling to family members, teachers, other clinicians, institutional staff, teachers and others. The course also aims to promote necessary skills for psychological work with children and young people in community health services. One week home exam. Approximately 5000 - 8000 words.

Learning outcome

General learning outcome: This course aims to increase students' knowledge of the different clinical conditions among children and adolescents with mental health problems; what characterizes them, possible etiology and how they can be prevented and treated. First line work in the form of cooperation between parents and school / nursery will be key. An important goal is to promote student interest in the subject and provide the opportunity to identify and explore various relevant issues.

Specific learning outcome: Towards the end of the course, students will have achieved the following:

Knowledge:

• The student has knowledge of the characteristics of various clinical conditions in children and adolescents with mental health problems; diagnostic criteria for these, differential diagnosis, and the incidence and risk factors.
• The student has a thorough knowledge of effective treatments for common mental health disorders in children and adolescents.
• The student has knowledge of psychotherapy research and the indications and efficacy of the most common forms of treatment.
• The student has knowledge of child and perspectives on development and psychopathology.
• The student masters relevant academic expression and may reflect different advantages and weaknesses of various forms of psychological treatment.
• The student has knowledge of risk factors for suicidal behavior - including recurrence risk, the characteristics of suicidal behavior, and how this should be investigated.
• The student has knowledge of family labor and system of work around the child and family.
• The student has knowledge about common issues in front line.

Skills:

• The student can study and analyze relevant psychologist professional issues in both front-line and specialist services.
• The student can reflect on and make an independent assessment of the current state and possible differential diagnosis.
• The student can demonstrate the ability to see the complexities of clinical conditions.
• The student can identify the severity of the individual state.
• The student can reflect and make an independent evaluation of the use of different treatment approaches.

General competence:

• The student has the ability to extract and integrate current theory and empirical evidence, both clinical and general psychological knowledge, and widely applied in individual cases.
• The student can communicate relevant theoretical and research-based clinical knowledge to a wide range of users and professionals.
• The student can analyze relevant professional and ethical issues.
• The student can apply knowledge and skills to new problems in the field.
• The student can collaborate with other professionals around the investigation and implementation of measures

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, seminars and exercises with individual tutorial guidance. Relevant curriculum is chosen for the different stage images, and includes text books, articles and compendium. In addition, relevant supporting literature is set up. Students will be encouraged to be curious about literature, and share tips with each other.

Compulsory assignments

• 80 % compulsory attendance

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Passed exam in PSYPRO4201-4204 are required. The class is divided into two from this semester. One group will take the two children clinic courses PSYPRO4601 and PSYPRO4602, the second group the two adult clinic courses, PSYPRO4603 and PSYPRO4604, and reverse the following semester. A student who has not passed either PSYPRO4602 or PSYPRO4603 cannot proceed until this has been passed.

Course materials

See reading list.

Credit reductions