Foundations of International Psychiatry

About this Course

What are some of the skills required when interviewing patients? What information is required when taking a patient history or completing a mental state examination? These are just some of the questions you'll seek answers to as you work through the course material. Mental health is an important public issue across the world, and the role of the psychiatrist is crucial in helping to address these. This course aims to give you a more nuanced understanding of the role of a psychiatrist, developing clinical skills and therapeutic relationships. Understanding the impact of mental illness in society and ethics in medicine are some of the key themes central to this course. This course is designed to provide essential background knowledge and practical skills that apply to any mental health clinical setting.

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Advanced Level

Approx. 9 hours to complete

Suggested: 5 weeks of study, 1 -3 hours per week.

English

Subtitles: English

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Advanced Level

Approx. 9 hours to complete

Suggested: 5 weeks of study, 1 -3 hours per week.

English

Subtitles: English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section

2 hours to complete

Course introduction & communication

Welcome to The University of Melbourne Massive Open Online Course in International Psychiatry. This course has been designed to provide essential background knowledge and practical skills for health professionals working with mentally unwell patients. In this first week of the course, you will learn about the importance of good communication skills. Working effectively and collaboratively with patients is the goal of every mental health professional. This can often be challenging for practitioners, especially when patients are very unwell or reluctant to seek help. Good communication skills are essential to engage patients and families, and to build therapeutic relationships with our clients. In this module we will look at skills and concepts that come in useful when interviewing patients....

2 videos (Total 11 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

2 videos

Course introduction - Dr. Mahesh Jayaram3m

Building a Therapeutic Relationship7m

5 readings

Course outline10m

Your teaching team10m

Start-of-course survey10m

The Therapeutic Relationship10m

Interview and engagement techniques20m

1 practice exercises

Week 1 Quiz (worth 10% of your final grade)20m

2

Section

3 hours to complete

Clinical skills

Welcome to the Clinical Skills module. The focus of this week's learning will on skills and concepts that come in useful when documenting a psychiatric patient history....

2 videos (Total 43 min), 2 quizzes

2 videos

Taking a Psychiatric History13m

Case Study - Depression29m

1 practice exercises

The psychiatric patient history (optional non assessed quiz)8m

3

Section

3 hours to complete

Mental state examination

The Mental State Examination (MSE) is a core skill in psychiatry, and an integral part of the patient interview. This week we will look at each component of the MSE, and how to classify, interpret, and document the patient’s presentation...

4 videos (Total 24 min), 6 readings

4 videos

The Process of Mental State Examination and its Reporting4m

The Affect in the Mental State Examination5m

The Thought Process in the Mental State Examination3m

Thought Content and the Delusion10m

6 readings

Background to the Mental State Examination5m

Appearance10m

Behaviour and speech10m

Mood and Affect10m

Perceptual Disturbance20m

Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication activity20m

4

Section

3 hours to complete

The Biopsychosocial Model

Now that you are familiar with the Mental State Examination, you will be required to write and submit your second peer reviewed assignment for this course - documenting a mental state examination. Later this week, we'll take a closer look at 'the biopsychosocial model' - a framework for integrating different aspects of the patient’s life into a wholistic understanding of their mental illness. In this module, you will learn about the model, and apply it to a clinical scenario....

2 videos (Total 16 min), 2 quizzes

2 videos

Case Study - Psychosis12m

The Biopsychosocial Model3m

1 practice exercises

Biopsychosocial Model (optional non assessed quiz)10m

5

Section

2 hours to complete

Psychiatry in Society

Health professionals occupy an important role in society, and there are expectations about how they conduct themselves in this role. Sufferers of mental illness can be particularly vulnerable, and it’s important that the law and professional ethics are followed to protect them. Furthermore, societal and cultural factors have a significant influence on the manifestation and management of mental illnesses. In this module we will explore these important topics....

5 videos (Total 22 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

What is Culture?5m

Culture and Mental Health7m

Introduction to Cultural Competence3m

Cultural Competence: Assessment Skills1m

Cultural Competence: The Competent Clinician3m

6 readings

What is Culture10m

Culture and Mental Health10m

Cultural Competence10m

Cultural issues in the clinic10m

Take your learning further5m

End of course survey10m

1 practice exercises

End of course quiz (worth 20% of your final grade)40m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Yes! Coursera provides financial aid to learners who would like to complete a course but cannot afford the course fee. To apply for aid, select "Learn more and apply" in the Financial Aid section below the "Enroll" button. You'll be prompted to complete a simple application; no other paperwork is required.

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Foundations of International Psychiatry