PSYC20054 - Psychopathology and Formulation 1

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit is the first of two units in which you will learn how professional knowledge of research and theory can be applied to practice related to high-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 high prevalence psychological disorders, including the critical evaluation of diagnostic systems of taxonomy.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 9
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 4
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Students must be enrolled in CG17 Master of Clinical Psychology or CL68 Master of Professional Psychology.

Anti-req PSYC21005.

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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2025

Term 1 - 2026 Profile
Online

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).

Assessment Overview

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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Portfolio 0%
2. Project (applied) 0%
3. Online Test 0%

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.

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2025 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 64.29% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 46.67% response rate.

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.

Source: Unit evaluation responses
Feedback
Students stated that they felt like the unit could benefit from inter-unit collaboration regarding the use of formulation to inform psychometric assessment and intervention planning.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the teaching team review the teaching schedule to strengthen the flow of content between units.
Action Taken
The teaching team reviewed the teaching schedule and strengthened the flow of content between units.
Source: Unit evaluation responses
Feedback
Students stated that they were unsure if the inclusion of a test (Assessment 3) was really required for this unit.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the teaching team review Assessment 3 to ensure the use of a test is the most appropriate assessment modality for the aligned learning outcomes.
Action Taken
The teaching team reviewed Assessment 3 to ensure that it was the most appropriate modality to assess the aligned learning outcomes. The outcome of the review was that the test would be retained. To ensure students understood the rationale behind the chosen assessment modality for Assessment 3, the Unit Coordinator shared the rationale behind the chosen assessment modality during the assessment brief in Week 1.
Source: Unit evaluation responses
Feedback
Students stated that they found it uncomfortable and challenging having to manage the time limit for the in-class presentations themselves.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the teaching team provide students with strategies to assist them in managing their adherence to the time limit during their in-class presentations.
Action Taken
After broader assessment discussions with the teaching team, in-class presentations were removed.
Source: Student Evaluations
Feedback
Students stated that recording the live lectures would allow them to review the lectures if further clarity is needed or to deepen their understanding of content.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the live lectures are recorded.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Evaluations
Feedback
Students suggested that examples of how psychopathologies present, through video format, would be useful for their learning and understanding.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the current learning materials are expanded on, and videos are used to aid students learning of the presenting features of the covered psychopathologies.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Evaluations
Feedback
Students questioned the relevance of developing a pamphlet for their future professional practice, suggesting a review of Assessment 1.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the teaching team review Assessment 1 to ensure that the modality chosen aligns practically with the skills needed in practice.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. 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 high prevalence psychological disorders.
  2. Interpret and synthesise psychological data to inform case formulation, diagnosis and intervention to guide evidence-based treatment planning in a culturally responsive manner.
  3. Apply advanced psycho-developmental knowledge to biopsychosocialspiritual models of mental health as they apply to the conceptualisation and communication of high 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 - Portfolio • •
2 - Project (applied) • •
3 - Online Test • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge • • •
2 - Communication •
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills • •
4 - Research • •
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8