Entry requirements

The student should be admitted to the Master's programme in Psychology. For admission to the course, at least 52.5 credits should be completed within the courses of the Psychologist programme 1-8. Any remaining credit points should derive from semester 2. Admission to the course can also be gained by students who have been given permission from the department's director of first-cycle studies to take part in supplementary studies to obtain a Swedish psychologist certificate.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

- account for the fundamental features of biological, cognitive and socio-emotional development for school-aged children and youths,

- explain the meaning of concepts relating to developmental psychopathology such as vulnerability, risk factors, dysfunctional cognitions, among others

- exemplify models within development psychopathology such as biological, psychodynamic and learning psychological models

- exemplify main criteria according to the DSM-system for diagnoses of autism, proper depression, anorexia and ADHD,

- exemplify the importance of sex, gender, culture and socio-economic affiliation

- exemplify how one tries to treat and prevent developmental psychopathological problems

Content

The course intends to highlight human development in school-aged children and youths and to present basic concepts, phenomenon and reasoning within developmental psychopathology. Further, some developmental psychopathological subareas are presented. The course is divided into two parts, namely

A. Normal development: biological, cognitive, emotional and social development including morality and identity development during the school-age years and adolescence.

B. Developmental psychopathology, such as neuropsychiatric problems, affective abberations, emotional and behavioural difficulties, abuse and anti-social behaviour: prevalence, development, prevention and treatment.

Focus is on ADHD, learning - and attention problems, Asperger syndrome, autism, conduct disorder, attachment problems, anxiety-related disturbances including fear, shyness, eating problems, depression related problems, stress and physical/psychological developmental effects, the effect of brain damage and other physical disease on children, youth and anti-social behaviour. Examples are given on prevention and measures.

Instruction

Teaching consists of teaching sessions and supervisor seminars for advanced assignments.

Assessment

Assessment of the student's knowledge is made in the following ways:

1. Written examination of parts of normal development and development psychopathology.

2. Written and oral, group and seminar presentations of the remaining parts. For examination, the grades used are passed or failed. The contents of lectures can constitute a basis for examination even when the lectures are not compulsory.

Other regulations

Other requirements, prerequisites and conditions for participation in and the fulfilment of the course, e.g. compulsory attendance, design of own work, etc., are evident from information given at the course introduction. A student who does not meet the mandatory requirements for a passing grade is usually given the opportunity to complete remaining parts the following term and/or is given complementary assignments by the course director.