Substance Use Disorders (PSYT90059)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25On Campus (Parkville) and Online
About this subject
Contact information
May
Email: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Contact hours: https://unimelb.edu.au/professional-development/contact-us
Overview
| Availability | May - On Campus May - Online |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The unit will provide an introduction into the area of substance abuse - definitions, classification systems, and epidemiology including incidence, prevalence and risk factors. It will cover the major substances of abuse including alcohol and other central nervous system depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens. The unit will have a practical approach, covering issues of features of the substance use disorder, assessment, long term effects and complications, family issues and medical and psychosocial management.
The interface between the substance use disorder and mental health and the issue of “Dual Diagnosis”, i.e. the co-occurrence of serious mental illness and substance use disorder in a particular person will comprise a major focus of the selective. Issues specific to the field of “Dual Diagnosis” such as epidemiology, the relationship between mental disorder and substance use disorder, the diagnosis of the respective conditions and their acute and long-term management will be covered.
Delivery of care in various treatment settings such as inpatient care, home-based detoxification, and residential support and rehabilitation services will be examined. Theoretical aspects of addiction and the psychological framework for treatment such as Prochaska and Di Clemente’s ‘stages of change’, motivational interviewing, 12 steps program of AA, co-dependency, relapse prevention and Zinberg’s social setting will be explored. The wider impact of substance abuse in the community will be covered, including prevention and health promotion, public education, the media, political, economic and social issues related to the availability of substances.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who complete this subject should be able to:
- Describe the epidemiology, aetiology, psychopathology, clinical features, complications and natural history of substance use disorders and the issues specific to “Dual Diagnosis” field;
- Describe the organisations involved in the delivery of drug treatment services;
- Demonstrate the clinical skills and knowledge needed to assess and develop treatment interventions for patients with substance use disorders;
- Critically reflect on current service structures and systems, and propose improvements; and
- Demonstrate the skills required to communicate clearly with colleagues especially in relation to the implications of psychiatric issues with colleagues, patients and carers including the specific interpersonal skills required in the management of patients with substance use disorders and to effectively liaise with medical and non-medical colleagues in non-psychiatric settings
Last updated: 4 March 2025
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Case history
| During the examination period | 50% |
Class presentation
| During the teaching period | 30% |
Logbook | During the examination period | 20% |
| Hurdle requirement: Attendance: 75% of sessions (for face-to-face students) OR 75% completion of online modules (for online students) | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- May - On Campus
Coordinators Kah-Seong Loke and Mahesh Jayaram Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 6 weeks x 3.5 hour seminars Total time commitment 85 hours Teaching period 5 May 2025 to 13 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 13 May 2025 Census date 23 May 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 June 2025 Assessment period ends 11 July 2025 - May - Online
Principal coordinator Mahesh Jayaram Coordinator Kah-Seong Loke Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 85 hours Total time commitment 85 hours Pre teaching start date 28 April 2025 Pre teaching requirements During the pre-teaching period, students should familiarise themselves with the online platform and may like to take the opportunity to read through preliminary information about the subject and the services and support that is available to them. Students are encouraged to use this time to also introduce themselves to peers and teaching staff and to learn about those they will be studying with throughout the term. Teaching period 5 May 2025 to 13 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 29 April 2025 Census date 16 May 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 13 June 2025 Assessment period ends 11 July 2025 May contact information
Email: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Contact hours: https://unimelb.edu.au/professional-development/contact-us
Time commitment details
85
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Solomon, J., Zimberg, S. & Shollar, E. (ed) (1993), Dual diagnosis: Evaluation, Treatment, Training and Program Development, Plenum Medical Books Co, New York
- Gitlow S. (2006), Substance Use Disorders, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia
- Cami J & Farre M (2003), Mechanisms of disease: Drug Addiction, New England Journal of Medicine 2003: 349 (10) pp. 975-986
- 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.
Additional information for this subject
Students wishing to take this subject under Community Access must meet the course entry requirements to be eligible.
Last updated: 4 March 2025