ObjectivesOn completion of the course, students should have acquired the following: • A thorough knowledge and understanding of the major psychiatric disorders including their aetiology, manifestation and management • An understanding of the social context in which psychiatry is practised including transcultural aspects • An understanding of psychology as applied to psychiatry • An understanding of basic and applied neuroscience relevant to psychiatry • Skills in critical analysis of published literature • An ability to make use of appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods as applied to research in psychiatry • The ability to show competence in scientific writing • The ability to develop research proposals • The development of critical reasoning and critical reflection applied to personal learning
Entry requirementsApplicants for the course should possess one of the following: • Undergraduate medical degree • Undergraduate degree at 2.2 or above in biological, psychological or health related area including social science • Professional qualification in a health related area with a minimum of 2 years’ professional experience, post-registration Students with a clinical interest must have a registerable professional qualification and be engaged in clinical practice.
Academic titleMSc, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate Psychiatry and Mental Health
Course descriptionPart-Time study
Introduction
The courses in Psychiatry and Mental Health are based upon the curriculum for basic specialist training in psychiatry developed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This curriculum describes the knowledge and the competencies required of medical practitioners wishing to proceed to higher specialist training in the subject. It thus provides comprehensive coverage of the field, including both clinical and basic sciences.
The courses will enable psychiatric trainees to acquire a rigorous, critical approach to the subject as well as an understanding of research methodology (MSc), which will prepare them for the challenges of higher training. It offers a similar grounding to psychiatric specialists who have not completed higher training or covered the Royal College curriculum. The courses will also appeal to practitioners from non-medical backgrounds who wish to develop an informed and critical perspective on the scientific evidence which underpins current practice.
Course Structure and Content
Psychiatry and Mental Health programmes are part-time courses which involve one day (10.00am to 5.00pm) per week of formal teaching during University academic semesters. There are two semesters per year.
The morning session consists of a case presentation (cases are presented by consultant psychiatrist teams throughout North Staffordshire covered by the Keele Rotational Training Scheme) and a seminar (guest national speaker) to complement the afternoon formal teaching session. The afternoon session is largely in seminar format and active student participation is expected. In addition, students will be given exercises to do outside the formal teaching sessions.
The course is delivered in 16 modules, each of 15 or 0 credits, over 2 months. Duration of the Certificate and Diploma will depend on the availability of modules taken and will vary from 12-2 months. The Masters course is studied over two calendar years.
MSc (180 credits)
Modules 5-10 and 11-16 are taught during two alternating (rolling) years and are intended for students taking the Masters course. The Masters course is designed for students interested in enhancing their research and advanced knowledge in psychiatry and mental health. Students applying for the Masters must have basic knowledge in psychiatry and mental health. Masters students will be required to take core modules 5 and 1 (totalling 5 credits), and any other 5 modules (each 15 credits) from modules -16. They will also be required to complete a dissertation or a research proposal of 15,000-20,000 words (60 credits).
Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
Modules 1- are core modules for students taking the Diploma and are intended to enhance general and clinical knowledge in psychiatry and mental health. The three modules are taught every year. Students undertaking the Diploma course are required to take these three 30-credit modules and any other modules to a total of an additional 30 credits.
Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Students interested in the Postgraduate Certificate can take any of the modules from 1-16 depending upon their area of interest, to a total of 60 credits.
Course Modules
• Module 1 – Basic Psychology and Psychopathology (30 credits)
• Module 2 – Major Psychiatric Disorders and Treatment (30 credits)
• Module 3 – Principles of Clinical Psychology and Psychopharmacology (30 credits)
• Module 4 – Substance Misuse (15 credits)
• Module 5 – Research Methods and Statistics (15 credits)
• Module 6 – Transcultural Psychiatry (15 credits)
• Module 7 – Sociology for Psychiatry (15 credits)
• Module 8 – Liaison Psychiatry (15 credits)
• Module 9 – Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (15 credits)
• Module 10 – Social and Rehabilitation Psychiatry (15 credits)
• Module 11 – Neuropsychiatry and Applied Behavioural Neuroscience (15 credits)
• Module 12 – Learning Disability (15 credits)
• Module 13 – Advanced Psychiatry (30 credits)
• Module 14 – Forensic Psychiatry (15 credits)
• Module 15 – Psychological Treatments (15 credits)
• Module 16 – Psychiatry of Old Age (15 credits)
Assessment
Modules 1-3 are assessed by two case studies – 3,000 words each weighted 50/50. Module 1 is assessed by two essays of 3,000 words each weighted 50/50. The rest of the modules are assessed by one essay of 3,000 words each.
Funding
Most students are wholly or partially funded by their employer. A few students will be self-funded.
Career Destination information
It is envisaged that the majority of students completing the course will work in general adult psychiatric institutions and in the community. The course will also prepare students to work in a wide range of organisations and disciplines, and with teams such as in child and adolescent health services, substance misuse services, forensic psychiatry, youth offenders teams, old age psychiatry, rehabilitation, research and education. The course may also assist some students with preparation of MRCPsych examinations and for higher degrees such an MD and PhD.