Foundations of International Psychiatry

The University of Melbourne

About this Course

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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.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

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Advanced Level

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.84/5 (14 Ratings)

Greg Shields

Dr.

Department of Psychiatry

8,547 Learners

1 Course

Mahesh Jayaram

Department of Psychiatry

8,547 Learners

1 Course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Advanced Level

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Offered by

The University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is an internationally recognised research intensive University with a strong tradition of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. Established in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest University.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

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 hours to complete

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 exercise

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

Week

Week 2

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.

3 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 43 min)

2 videos

Taking a Psychiatric History13m

Case Study - Depression29m

1 practice exercise

The psychiatric patient history (optional non assessed quiz)30m

Week

Week 3

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

3 hours to complete

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

Week

Week 4

2 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.

2 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 16 min)

2 videos

Case Study - Psychosis12m

The Biopsychosocial Model3m

1 practice exercise

Biopsychosocial Model (optional non assessed quiz)30m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Foundations of International Psychiatry

Foundations of International Psychiatry