PSY6052 - Aspects of Health Psychology

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Analyse and debate a range of issues and problems in health psychology, examine and appraise these issues and areas and assess the key factors involved.
Distinguish and differentiate key processes of interaction between the Psychological, Social and Biological functions that lead to illness and compare and evaluate the relevant factors.
Demonstrate knowledge of key models and processes in health psychology.
Assess and develop amelioration plans for Functional Somatic Syndromes.
Be aware of the practice and ethical issues involved in Health Psychology.

Content:

Introduction to health psychology module. Biological basis of health. The General Adaptation Syndrome. The psychology of pain and chronic fatigue. The field of Psychoneuroimmunology. The psychological and biological effects of exercise participation. The over-training syndrome. Funtional somatic syndromes and health anxiety. Placebo effect. Experience of treatment. Changing behaviour to improve health. Careers with health psychology.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The delivery of the module will be through the use of lectures and workshops and the use of VLE Moodle.

Lectures (including, directed reading, audio-visual material)
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group Size: 30

Workshops
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group Size: 30

Guided Independent Study
Hours: 160

Assessment:

001 Poster presentation; A3 Poster (1,000 word equiv) with explanatory notes & reference log (1,000 words); mid-semester 1 50%
002 Intervention assignment; 2,000 words; end of semester 1 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Ben Morris
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6S1

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