Overview
This unit is the second of two units in which you will learn how professional knowledge of research and psychological theory can be applied to practice related to low-prevalence psychological disorders across the lifespan, inclusive of culturally diverse populations. As a result, you will learn to conceptualise contemporary psychology cases and to formulate a treatment plan to help your clients. Specifically, this unit uses case-based learning to develop competency in self-reflective practices and the application of diagnostic classification systems to low-prevalence psychological disorders, including the critical evaluation of diagnostic systems of taxonomy.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must be enrolled in CG17 Master of Clinical Psychology or CL68 Master of Professional Psychology. Anti-req PSYC21006.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
Students felt that the lecturer provided a supportive class atmosphere, presenting opportunities to collaborate and learn from peers.
Continue to support students and foster a collaborative learning experience.
Feedback from SUTE
Students asked if video recordings of the lectures could be made available in the future.
Record lectures and upload them to Moodle to improve accessibility and support diverse student needs.
- Synthesise and apply psychological knowledge and relevant international taxonomies (i.e. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Classification of Diseases) to evaluate and classify low prevalence psychological disorders.
- Interpret and synthesise psychological data to inform case formulation, diagnosis and intervention to guide evidence-based treatment planning in a culturally responsive manner.
- Apply advanced psycho-developmental knowledge to biopsychosocialspiritual models of mental health as they apply to the conceptualisation and communication of low prevalence psychological disorders in a culturally responsive manner.
Learning outcomes are drawn from specifications for study at level 9 as indicated by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), program of study criteria as stated by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsychBA), and the following core competencies stated by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC):
- 3.2 Apply evidence-based and scientific methods to professional practice across the lifespan in empirically valid and culturally responsive ways,
- 3.3 Employ professional communication skills, in a culturally responsive manner, with a range of socially and culturally diverse clients,
- 3.5 Identify psychological disorders using a recognised taxonomy,
- 3.6 Conduct professional interviews and assessments and synthesise information from multiple sources, including assessment of risk, to formulate a conceptualisation of the presenting issues to determine the most appropriate interventions, including management of risk, and
- 3.14 Engage in self-reflective professional practice, taking account of the impact of their own values and beliefs, and taking appropriate actions as a result (APAC, 2019, p.13-14).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Project (applied) - 0% | |||
| 2 - Portfolio - 0% | |||
| 3 - Online Test - 0% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.m.carter@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 13 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Introduction and Term Overview
Personality disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 20 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Personality disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 27 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Obsessive compulsive and related disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 03 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Schizophrenia spectrum and other disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 10 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Schizophrenia spectrum and other disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 17 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Sleep disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 24 Aug 2026Module/Topic
No lecture due to vacation week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 31 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Sleep disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 07 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Sexual dysfunctions and gender dysphoria
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 14 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Feeding and eating disorders and elimination disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 21 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Feeding, eating disorders and elimination disorders
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 28 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Term overview + additional content
Chapter
Check weekly schedule on Moodle for required additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 05 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Online Test
Chapter
No readings this week
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online test to be completed in class time.
Online Test Due: Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2026) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 12 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 19 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Project (applied)
You will develop two (2) resources for a disorder allocated in Week 1: one for a professional audience (e.g., colleague or multidisciplinary context) and one for a client. Resources should be appropriate for their intended purpose and demonstrate the ability to interpret and communicate psychological information relevant to assessment, diagnosis, and intervention planning. In developing these resources, you should draw on evidence-based knowledge and consider how information is communicated in a culturally responsive and appropriate manner, including the influence of client context.
The aim of this task is to support your ability to translate psychological knowledge into formats suitable for applied professional practice.
To successfully pass this assessment, you must receive a grade 70% or higher on both aspects of this assessment. If a grade lower than 70% is given you will be given one (1) opportunity to re-submit to receive a passing grade. It is suggested that if you are required to re-submit the assessment you should arrange a time to meet with the Unit Coordinator to ensure you understand the feedback that has been given. The re-submitted assessment piece will be due one (1) week after marks for the original submission are released. To pass this unit, all assessment pieces must be passed.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 4 Friday (7 Aug 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Upload through Assessment portal on Moodle.
Week 6 Friday (21 Aug 2026)
Your resources will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Application of psychological knowledge to the selected disorder, including relevant aspects of assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
- Integration and use of evidence to inform understanding and application of psychological information.
- Communication for purpose and audience, including clarity, structure, and appropriateness for professional or client contexts.
- Consideration of context and cultural responsiveness in the communication and application of psychological information.
A more detailed marking rubric will be provided on Moodle.
- Interpret and synthesise psychological data to inform case formulation, diagnosis and intervention to guide evidence-based treatment planning in a culturally responsive manner.
- Apply advanced psycho-developmental knowledge to biopsychosocialspiritual models of mental health as they apply to the conceptualisation and communication of low prevalence psychological disorders in a culturally responsive manner.
2 Portfolio
You are required to develop a structured case formulation based on a provided case study of a low prevalence psychological disorder, using the 5P model. Your formulation should integrate relevant information to support diagnosis, case conceptualisation, and consideration of appropriate intervention approaches, drawing on recognised classification systems (DSM-5-TR and/or ICD-11). You will apply a biopsychosocial–spiritual framework to explain the client’s presentation, including consideration of contextual and cultural influences.
To successfully pass this assessment, you must receive a grade 70% or higher on both aspects of this assessment. If a grade lower than 70% is given you will be given one (1) opportunity to re-submit to receive a passing grade. The re-submitted assessment piece will be due one (1) week after marks for the original submission are released. It is suggested that if you are required to re-submit the assessment you should arrange a time to meet with the Unit Coordinator to ensure you understand the feedback that has been given. To pass this unit, all assessment pieces must be passed.
A more detailed task description will be provided on Moodle.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Week 9 Friday (18 Sept 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (2 Oct 2026)
You will receive your Case Presentation marks within 2 weeks of your submission.
You will be assessed on:
- Development of a coherent case formulation, including appropriate organisation and interpretation of relevant information.
- Diagnostic understanding, including identification of relevant diagnoses and consideration of differential diagnoses.
- Application of a biopsychosocial–spiritual framework to explain the client’s presentation and inform understanding of the case.
- Use of psychological knowledge and evidence to support the formulation and consideration of intervention approaches.
- Consideration of context and cultural factors in understanding the client’s presentation and informing the case formulation.
A more detailed marking rubric will be provided on Moodle.
- Synthesise and apply psychological knowledge and relevant international taxonomies (i.e. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Classification of Diseases) to evaluate and classify low prevalence psychological disorders.
- Apply advanced psycho-developmental knowledge to biopsychosocialspiritual models of mental health as they apply to the conceptualisation and communication of low prevalence psychological disorders in a culturally responsive manner.
3 Online Test
You will complete an online assessment based on case-based scenarios and direct questions designed to assess your ability to apply psychological knowledge to the classification, conceptualisation, and understanding of low prevalence psychological disorders. Questions may require you to interpret information, apply relevant classification frameworks, and consider appropriate responses based on the information provided. The assessment will draw on all content from across the unit (lectures and readings).
To successfully pass this assessment, you must receive a grade 70% or higher on this assessment. If a grade lower than 70% is given you will be given one (1) opportunity to re-submit to receive a passing grade. The re-submitted assessment piece will be due one (1) week after marks for the original submission are released. It is suggested that if you are required to re-submit the assessment you should arrange a time to meet with the Unit Coordinator to ensure you understand the feedback that has been given. To pass this unit, all assessment pieces must be passed.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment item.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2026) 9:00 am AEST
This test will be completed in the class time
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2026)
Feedback will be uploaded through assessment portal on Moodle.
You will be assessed on:
- Application of psychological knowledge to the classification and understanding of psychological disorders.
- Interpretation of case-based information to support appropriate conclusions and responses.
- Use of relevant classification frameworks in identifying and understanding psychological disorders.
- Application of psychological concepts in context, including consideration of relevant individual and situational factors.
- Synthesise and apply psychological knowledge and relevant international taxonomies (i.e. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Classification of Diseases) to evaluate and classify low prevalence psychological disorders.
- Interpret and synthesise psychological data to inform case formulation, diagnosis and intervention to guide evidence-based treatment planning in a culturally responsive manner.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
