Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. Also required is 90 credits in psychology with at least 7.5 credits in methods and statistics. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and comprehension:

• Describe different types of digital interventions relevant for the assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders and related somatic conditions, for example Internet-based psychological treatment and Virtual Reality.
• Explain relevant concepts in the field.
• Describe study designs and research methods often used in evaluating digital interventions, such as randomized controlled trials.
• Present the current evidence for different types of digital interventions.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of digital interventions compared to regular interventions regarding such aspects as cost-effectiveness and implementation.

Skills and abilities:

• Compare different digital interventions with regard to their relevance, implementation, and benefits for patients and society.
• Discuss how different factors can affect the implementation of digital interventions, for example demographics and organizational context.
• Create a study for a digital intervention that could be applied to a specific psychiatric disorder or related somatic condition.

Assessment and attitude:

• Review quantitative and qualitative studies in the field and assess their respective contribution to the research on digital interventions.
• Scrutinize systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the field and determine the current evidence for digital interventions.
• Assess different types of measurement that are relevant for digital interventions with a specific focus on their psychometric properties.
• Reflect upon the role and implications of digital interventions for the healthcare system and society.

Content

Digital interventions in psychology entails treatments that are usually delivered face-to-face as part of regular healthcare but are transferred to other formats, for example Internet-based psychological treatment and Virtual Reality. This course aims to provide an understanding of digital interventions and their relevance for the healthcare system and society. The course gives an overview of the current evidence for digital interventions and factors such as

cost-effectiveness and implementation. The course also provides an understanding of study designs and research methods often used in evaluating digital interventions. Furthermore, the course offers practical training in creating a study on a digital intervention that could be applied to a specific psychiatric disorder or related somatic condition.

Instruction

Teaching involves lectures, assignments, group presentations, and seminars.

Assessment

Assessment will be in the form av active participation at seminars, group work, oral presentations, and an individual written assignment.