Rehabilitation Psychology – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

This course will give you an excellent understanding of the research and clinical skills relevant to physical rehabilitation within the National Health Service.
You will be required to study a number of core modules:

* Clinical Skills
* Cognitive Assessment
* Cognitive Rehabilitation
* Literature Review
* Core Research Methods
* Health and Clinical Research Methods
* Theoretical Foundation of Rehabilitation
* Theories in Health Psychology

In addition, you will choose from a number of approved optional modules, giving you the flexibility to tailor the course to your personal interests and feed into your research project.

Optional modules on offer may include:

* Attention, Perception and Language
* Chronic Illness, Disability and Stress
* Foundations of Neuropsychology
* Health Across the Lifespan
* Healthcare Contexts
* Learning Disabilities
* Memory & Executive Function
* Practice & Evaluation of Health Interventions
* Stroke

Please note that all module details are subject to change.
Over the summer period towards the end of the course, you will undertake a rehabilitation research project. This is your opportunity to complete a major piece of independent research under the supervision of a suitably experienced member of academic staff.

Course Structure
The MSc in Rehabilitation Psychology is delivered on a full-time basis over one year or part-time over two years.
The course comprises 180 credits, split across 120 credits´ worth of core and optional taught modules and a 60-credit research project.
Part-time students on this course are taught alongside full-time students and the choice of modules (and therefore the timetable) is flexible and a matter for agreement between student and course director. In all cases, part-time students can access a wide range of teaching and learning facilities remotely via the student portal.

Modules
* Theoretical Foundations of Rehabilitation
* This module provides an overview of concepts central to all forms of rehabilitation. The material forms four sections: Disability: social, political and ethical dimensions, covering social attitudes to disabled people, models of disability, the WHO conceptual framework, economics of disablement and concepts of need and demand. Rehabilitation concepts: exploring the differences between concepts used by professionals with differing backgrounds and by users of services Rehabilitation processes: Covering core processes including learning and behavioural change, inter-professional working, and utilisation of technologies in rehabilitation. The spectrum of rehabilitation: reviewing the broad range of health and social contexts in which rehabilitation occurs.
* Stroke
* This two-day workshop will be aimed at a multi-professional audience and will be of particular interest to individuals who want to familiarise themselves with the current evidence for stroke rehabilitation, the gaps in current knowledge, the methodological issues and the difficulties in interpreting the evidence. Topics include recovery and rehabilitation, acute stroke care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, perceptual problems, stroke management and speech and language therapy.
* Cognitive Assessment
* This module will consider various aspects of cognitive assessment. The tests used will be evaluated in terms of standardisation, reliability and validity. Practical issues in administration and interpretation will be considered. The role of cognitive assessment will be evaluated within a research context.
* Cognitive Rehabilitation
* The content of this module is designed from the perspective of psychologists working in multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams. Topics are covered from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. These include intervention strategies for impairment of language, perception, memory, motor skills. In addition, techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical intervention will be discussed.
* Clinical Skills
* This module will introduce students to practical skills needed for working with clients in a health care setting. Practical training will be given in interviewing, assessment and counselling. Theoretical models will be linked to clinical practice. Evidence to support clinical skills will be considered.
* Literature Review
* Students are required to carry out a thorough literature search and review of an agreed topic in Rehabilitation or Neuropsychology relevant to their course.
* Foundations of neuropsychology
* This module provides a grounding in neuroscience and the methods of neuropsychology for neuropsychologists. It includes neuroanatomy, elementary neurophysiology and neurochemistry. Topics in clinical neuroscience include neuroimaging and neuropharmacology. The history of neuropsychology and the methods of cognitive neuroscience are reviewed.
* Theories in Health Psychology
* This module seeks to develop an appreciation of (a) health-related behaviour, (b) health-related cognitions and (c) individual differences in health & illness. This will be illustrated with reference to key topics in the health & occupational health literature.
* Health Across the Lifespan
* This module introduces key aspects of health psychology and facilitates debate about different approaches to the study of health. These include (a) reproductive health and decision making; (b) children's perception of illness; (c) the role of the family in the promotion and maintenance of health; (d) caring for a relative with a chronic illness; (e) changes in health across the lifespan and (f) death, dying and bereavement.
* Healthcare Contexts
* This module develops an appreciation of key issues in the interaction between patients and health care contexts. These include (a) communication in health care settings; (b) the impact of screening; (c) the impact of hospitalisation on adults / children; (d) preparation for stressful medical procedures; (e) giving bad news; (f) adherence to medical treatment; (g) communication and patient satisfaction; and (h) the psychological affect of placebos.
* Memory and Executive
* An overview of current theoretical models of both memory and executive function will be provided. In addition there will be consideration of disorders of planning, executive function, memory and learning. Methods of assessment and rehabilitation will be reviewed.
* Core Research Methods
* This module discusses the nature and philosophy of psychology as a social science. Students will be introduced to basic issues relating to the nature, philosophy and strategies of social science, to related issues of research methods and ethics. The module will consider the practical and social psychological issues involved in conducting research in field situations (eg obtaining participants, sampling, keeping records)
* Forensic, Health and Clinical Research Methods