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School of Psychology

Biological Psychology of Mental Health (C8504)

Biological Psychology of Mental Health

Module C8504

Module details for 2022/23.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 6

Full Module Description

The module examines the biological underpinnings of selected mental health conditions. Topics covered may include addictions, anxiety disorders, attentional disorders, autism, dementias, eating disorders, mood disorders, psychosis, and sleep disorders. Clinical observations, human experiments, genomic investigations, and studies using animal models may be used to illustrate the relationships between altered cognitive-behavioural states, biochemical processes, and functional neuroanatomy. The biological implications of therapies for mental health conditions will also be discussed.

This module builds on knowledge gained in the core psychology modules C8003: Psychobiology and C8518: Brain and Behaviour. Students who are not enrolled on the BSc Psychology course at Sussex are expected to be familiar with the material covered in these modules.

Module Outline

The module examines the biological underpinnings of selected mental health conditions. Topics covered may include addictions, anxiety disorders, attentional disorders, autism, dementias, eating disorders, mood disorders, psychosis, and sleep disorders. Clinical observations, human experiments, genomic investigations, and studies using animal models may be used to illustrate the relationships between altered cognitive-behavioural states, biochemical processes, and functional neuroanatomy. The biological implications of therapies for mental health conditions will also be discussed.

This module builds on knowledge gained in the core psychology modules C8003: Psychobiology and C8518: Brain and Behaviour. Students who are not enrolled on the BSc Psychology course at Sussex are expected to be familiar with the material covered in these modules.

Module learning outcomes

Appreciate the potential biological bases of various mental health conditions, along with possible biomedical interventions

Critically evaluate scientific research investigating the biological underpinnings of mental health conditions

TypeTimingWeighting
Computer Based ExamSemester 1 Assessment70.00%
Coursework30.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
Computer Based ExamT1 Week 6 (1 hour 50 minutes)100.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Autumn SemesterLecture2 hours11111111111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Maria Hadjimarkou

Convenor
/profiles/438422

Dr Bryan Singer

Convenor, Assess convenor
/profiles/454349

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The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.