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Programme & Unit Catalogues


PA500389: Mental health

[Page last updated: 05 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Credits: 15 CATS credits
Notional Study Hours: 150
Level: FHEQ level 7
Period:
Modular (no specific semester)
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Clinical & Work Based Portfolio (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Description: Aims:
To update the underpinning knowledge of pharmacology, pathophysiology, psychosocial context and medicines optimisation to support the clinical management of patients/service users with mental health conditions.

Learning Outcomes:

* Critically analyse and evaluate the pathophysiology and psychosocial context of mental health conditions, the pharmacology of key medicines used in this setting, and apply these to support complex optimisation decisions including therapeutic selection, administration and monitoring within the context of clinical uncertainty
* Use effective communication strategies to support patients (and carers, advocates, representatives) and healthcare professionals to make complex medicines optimisation decisions; taking into account patient views/beliefs/ICE (ideas, concerns, expectations)
* Identify, critically evaluate and apply key evidence sources in order to effect (and support others to effect) medicines optimisation outcomes within these clinical conditions
* Identify and employ effective patient activation strategies to support patients with these conditions
* Design enhancements to medicines and health services, including effective use of health resources, patient facing services and clinical governance structures
* Reflect on learning experiences, evaluate performance, and identify performance gaps within this clinical area to support ongoing development.

Skills:

* Clinical skills
* Study skills
* Written communication
* Working with others
* Scientific and practical skills
* Improving learning and performance
* Information and communication technology
* Problem solving.

Content:

* Pathophysiology and psychosocial context of key conditions including:
- Anxiety and insomnia
- Depression
- Psychosis and schizoaffective disorders
- Bipolar disorders and mania
- The dementias
- Substance misuse
* Pharmacology, administration and monitoring of medicines used in the treatment of these conditions
* Drug-disease interactions specific to these conditions
* Pharmacoeconomic consideration of medicines optimisation
* Professional and ethical values; complex ethical decision making, including legislation and ethics in mental health prescribing
* Communication, negotiating and agreeing complex healthcare decisions; including sensitive information / communication with carers, relatives, advocates etc
* Additional skills to support the delivery of enhancements to medicines and health services, including effective use of health resources, patient facing services and clinical governance structures.

Programme availability:

PA500389 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.