| Unit name | Neuropsychiatry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PSYC31042 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
| Unit director | Professor. Leonards |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Psychological Science |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Historically, neurology and psychiatry were closely linked. In the last century, abnormal behaviour experienced different explanatory approaches by neruologists (body) and psychiatrists (mind). This unit will provide information on the historical foundation of neuropsychiatry, and consequently, demonstrate that common syndromes of Abnormal Psychology are also observable in patients with circumscribed brain lesions. In particular, this unit will deal with the most prvailing psychiatric phenomena such as the major psychoses (schizophrenia, depression), anxiety, obsession, drug addiction, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Further examples are presented to underlie the relationsip between focal brain lesions and abnormal behaviour (e.g. phantom limbs, out-of-body experiences, hysteria, alian hand syndrome, Capgras delusion, Fregoli delusion). In sum, the current unit intends to contribute to the ongoing body-mind debate, with the specific goal to demonstrate that psychiatric disorders are as organic as established neurological disorders.
Aims:
The unit aims to develop students intellectual skills and knowledge base. Students will be furnished with a thorough understanding of contemporary issues in the subject area and will learn about the role of empirical evidence in the formation of theory. The acquisition of both generic and specific skills is furthered, and students are expected to be able to systematically analyse the relationships between multiple perspectives in the light of theory and evidence, and show an impressive grasp of theory and creative insight. Students are expected to further develop written and information synthesis skills, as well as critical evaluation skills by producing a piece of assessed written work and exams. A further aim is to introduce students to different methodological approaches to the study of neuropsychiatry.
On completion of the unit, the students will:
12 lectures and 1 tutorial (up to 15 students in each tutorial).
Summative assessment: One 2000 word essay (30%) and 1 2-hour exam (70%).
Every Abnormal Psychology textbook (available from the library, common author names are: i) Davison and Neale, ii) Hansell, and iii) Comer) describes the basic psychiatric syndromes, and importantly here the related symptoms.
Every Neuropsychology textbook can help understanding the link between anatomy and function (see 2nd year unit, common authors are Kolb and Whishaw). Examples illustrating psychiatric symptoms from a neurological perspective will be given in each lecture. These references are journal articles available electronically via the library.
