EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT OF COMMON MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS - 2021/2
Module code: PSYM127
Module Overview
This module provides trainee PWPs with an opportunity to develop their knowledge and competencies with regards to treating patients presenting with common mental health difficulties using a range of low intensity cognitive behavioural based interventions. Trainees will be encouraged to critically engage with the literature that informs their practice and to use this to develop their work. Trainee PWPs will be supported in this process through a combination of university based learning opportunities combined with supervised in-service clinical practice and directed independent study.
Module provider
Psychology
Module Leader
FISHER-SMITH Emily (Psychology)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 58.5
Lecture Hours: 27
Practical/Performance Hours: 27
Guided Learning: 37.5
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
- An undergraduate degree with a minimum 2:1 classification or equivalent
- Relevant mental health work experience (voluntary or paid) as assessed at interview and based on the potential trainee’s application form
- Employment within an IAPT service that is able to meet the course training requirements
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- CBT based interventions
- Risk management
- Common factor skills
- Clinical and case management supervision
- Stepped care
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Online Scheduled Summative Class Test | 24 HOUR (OPEN BOOK) ONLINE TEST | 100 |
| Practical based assessment | VIDEO/AUDIO RECORDING OF A LIVE TREATMENT SESSION ASSESSED ACCORDING TO PREDEFINED CRITERIA | Pass/Fail |
Alternative Assessment
None.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and practice in undertaking patient centred treatments.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
A video-recorded or audio recorded real life low-intensity treatment session with a patient treated by the trainee, in which the trainee is required to demonstrate skills in planning and implementing a low-intensity treatment programme. This recording will be assessed by teaching staff using a standardised assessment measure.
A 60 minute written examination assessing trainee’s knowledge of low intensity treatments and their capacity to critically engage with its theory base.
Both assessments must be passed in order to pass the module.
Assessment will be marked at FHEQ level 7, with a pass mark of 50%.
Formative assessment
Ongoing written and / or verbal feedback provided by course tutors and / or supervisors from IAPT mental health services. Trainees will undertake a mock OSCE for which they are provided with written feedback from their observer who will be a course tutor and / or a qualified professional e.g. PWP / PWP supervisor. Trainees will also do a mock exam; the answers to which will be discussed as a group. Trainees are able to request further one-to-one practice / support from their tutor or other course tutor as required both before and after (in the case of a failed first attempt) their OSCE / examination.
Feedback
Written feedback is provided to students via SurreyLearn
Module aims
- To equip trainee PWPs with the knowledge and skills that they require to provide therapeutic support and management to individuals and groups of patients who are experiencing common mental health difficulties as well as their families, friends and carers.
- To develop trainee PWPs general and disorder-defined ‘specific factor’ competencies in the delivery of low intensity cognitive behavioural interventions. This includes, but is not limited to, behavioural activation, exposure, cognitive restructuring, panic management, problem solving, CBT-informed sleep management, and computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) packages as well as supporting physical exercise and medication adherence.
- To equip trainee PWPs with an understanding of, and an ability to apply, the COM-B model to promote psychological wellbeing.
- To enable trainee PWPs to be able to work in a variety of contexts such as one-to-one, group, telephone and e-mail.T
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Critically evaluate a range of evidence-based interventions and strategies to assist patients manage their emotional distress and disturbance. | KC |
| 002 | Demonstrate knowledge of, and competence in developing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance with patients during their treatment programme, including dealing with issues and events that threaten the alliance. | KCPT |
| 003 | Demonstrate competence in planning a collaborative low-intensity psychological or pharmacological treatment programme for common mental health problems, including managing the ending of contact. | KCPT |
| 004 | Demonstrate in-depth understanding of, and competence in the use of, a range of low-intensity, evidence-based psychological interventions for common mental health problems. | KP |
| 005 | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of, and competence in using behaviour change models and strategies in the delivery of low-intensity interventions. | KCP |
| 006 | Critically evaluate the role of case management and stepped care approaches to managing common mental health problems in primary care including ongoing risk management appropriate to service protocols. | KCP |
| 007 | Demonstrate knowledge of, and competence in supporting people with medication for common mental disorders to help them optimise their use of pharmacological treatment and minimise any adverse effects. | KCPT |
| 008 | Demonstrate competency in delivering low-intensity interventions using a range of methods including face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication. | KPT |
| 009 | Demonstrates experience and competence in the selection and delivery of treatment of a range of presenting problems using evidence based low intensity interventions across a range of problem descriptor including depression and two or more anxiety disorders. | KCP |
| 010 | Demonstrates the ability to use common factor competencies to manage emotional distress and maintain therapeutic alliances to support patients using low-intensity interventions. | PT |
| 011 | Demonstrates high quality case recording and systematic evaluation of the process and outcomes of mental health interventions, adapting care on the basis of these evaluations. | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Enable trainee PWPs to develop and demonstrate their knowledge and competence in undertaking collaborative patient centred assessments treatments.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- Discussion
- E-learning
- Tutor led lectures
- Modelling
- Supervised role play
- Work based learning
- Clinical and case management supervision
- Simulation
- Independent study (guided reading)
- Directed study (tutor directed assignments)
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PSYM127
Other information
This module is only available to students undertaking the Advanced Practice in Psychological Wellbeing PG Cert.
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.