Forensic Psychiatry (PSYT90016)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25On Campus (Parkville) and Online
About this subject
Contact information
May
June
Overview
| Availability | May - On Campus June - Online |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The interaction between a mental disorder and offending behaviour is important not just for forensic mental health specialists but for all of those who work with the mentally disordered. Clinicians need to develop the skills to balance the needs of patients with those of the legal system and the safety of the community. This elective will attempt to acquaint students with the nature of the relationships between mental disorder and deviant (including criminal) behaviours. It will provide an introduction to current evidence-based approaches to assessing and managing risk of future violence. The course will also look at specific forms of deviant behaviour, in particular sexual offending and stalking behaviours, in order to illustrate the interactions between deviant and potentially damaging behaviours and disorders of the mind. The overall objective of the course will be to introduce students to those aspects of forensic mental health which will be of general applicability in psychiatric practice.
Intended learning outcomes
- Describe the interaction between a mental disorder and offending behaviour and the nature of the relationships between mental disorder and disordered behaviour that lead to criminal offending
- Demonstrate the basic skills needed to assess and manage risk of violence in patients with a mental disorder
- Demonstrate understanding, and be able to apply, legal aspects of forensic psychiatry (in particular, mental impairment and fitness to be tried)
- Demonstrate understanding of mental health issues within custodial settings
- Be able to formulate patients with forensic issues and develop a rehabilitation plan for them
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Active participation, contribution to discussion, and completion of subject activities, during semester (10%)
- 2500 word critical review of the literature in a relevant area chosen by the student, due within 3 weeks of teaching period end date (90%)
- Attendance: 75% of sessions (for face-to-face students) OR 75% completion of online modules (for online students) (Hurdle requirement)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- May - On Campus
Principal coordinator Clare McInerney Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 6 weeks x 3.5 hour seminars Teaching period 12 May 2017 to 16 June 2017 Last self-enrol date 19 May 2017 Census date 26 May 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 June 2017 Assessment period ends 7 July 2017 May contact information
- June - Online
Principal coordinator Clare McInerney Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 6 weeks x 3.5 hour seminars Teaching period 30 June 2017 to 4 August 2017 Last self-enrol date 7 July 2017 Census date 14 July 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 August 2017 Assessment period ends 25 August 2017 June contact information
Time commitment details
85
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Drake, C R & Pathe M (2004) Understanding Sexual Offending in Schizophrenia, Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 14, 108-120.
Gunn J & Taylor P (eds) Forensic Psychiatry: Clinical, Legal and Ethical Issues. Butterworth Heinemann. 1993.
Mullen P, Pather M & Purcell R (2001) The Management of Stalkers: Advances in Psychiatric treatment, 7, 335-342.
Otto R K (2000) Assessing and Managing Violence Risk in Outpatient Settings. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(10), 1239-1262.
Wallace C, MullenP, Burgess P, Palmer S, Rushing D & Browne C (1998) Serious Criminal Offending and Mental Disorder: Case Linkage Study. Br J Psychiatry, 172, 477-484
- Subject notes
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (CAP), subject to applicants meeting the entry requirements for the course.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Psychiatry Course Master of Psychiatry - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022