Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology (MScRes)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek - RM Clinical and Developmental Psychopath
- 2011-2012
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek - RM Clinical and Developmental Psychopath - 2011-2012
I
The Research Master program in Clinial and Developmental Psychopathology is part of the William James Graduate
School. It is a two year program of total 120 ECTS, 60 ECTS a year.
Goals of the Program
After completion of the programme, graduates will be qualified to work as competent psychological researchers with
an independent work attitude. They will be capable of successfully completing a PhD programme, or working in a
research institution, tackling multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary questions at the intersection of clinical psychology,
developmental psychology, and educational sciences, with an emphasis on translational research, translating
theoretical insights into clinical applications and/or clinical experiences into theoretical insights.
Program
RM1
7 joint courses
5x6 EC + 2x12 EC
1 elective course
1x6 EC
Total 60 EC
RM2
4 joint courses
4x6 EC
1 elective course
1x6 EC
1 Master's thesis
1x30 EC
Total 60 EC
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek - RM Clinical and Developmental Psychopath - 2011-2012
II
Inhoudsopgave
Research master Clinical and developmental psychopathology, year 1 and 2, Elective courses
1
Research master Clinical and developmental psychopathology, year 1, Compulsory courses
1
Research master Clinical and developmental psychopathology, year 2, Compulsory courses
2
Other information
2
Subscription terms
2
Vak: Aging and Mental Health
3
Vak: Autism and Developmental Disorders
3
Vak: Brain, Cognition, and Mental Health
4
Vak: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
5
Vak: Emotional Disorders and Suicide
6
Vak: Epidemiological Research in Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology
6
Vak: Juvenile Delinquency and Antisocial Development
7
Vak: Master's Thesis
8
Vak: Parenting and Mental Health
8
Vak: Practical I: Skills for Clinical Research
9
Vak: Practical II: Initiating and Performing Academic-Clinical Research
10
Vak: Practical III: Advanced Research Methods in Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology
10
Vak: Psychopathology
11
Vak: Randomized Controlled Trials of Psychological Interventions
11
Vak: Research Project
12
Vak: Scientific Writing and Presenting (CDP)
12
Vak: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Psychological Interventions
13
Vak: Theory of Therapeutic and Preventive Intervention
14
Vak: Trends in Brain and Behaviour
15
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek - RM Clinical and Developmental Psychopath - 2011-2012
III
Research master Clinical and developmental psychopathology, year 1 and 2,
Elective courses
Below the elective courses. During the first year as well as the second
year students choose one out of seven courses.
The following courses will nog be lectured during 2011/12:
- Aging and mental health
- Autism and developmental disorders
- Brain, cognition and mental health
- Emotional disorders and suicide
Vakken:
Naam
Periode
Credits
Code
6.0
P_MAGMENT
6.0
P_MAUTDEV
6.0
P_MBRCOGM
6.0
P_MCOBETH
6.0
P_MEMDISS
Period 4
6.0
P_MJUVDEL
Parenting and Mental Health Period 4
6.0
P_MPARMEN
Aging and Mental Health
Autism and Developmental
Disorders
Period 1
Brain, Cognition, and Mental
Health
Cognitive Behaviour
Therapy
Period 4
Emotional Disorders and
Suicide
Juvenile Delinquency and
Antisocial Development
Research master Clinical and developmental psychopathology, year 1, Compulsory
courses
Below the first year compulsory courses.
Vakken:
Naam
Periode
Credits
Code
Epidemiological Research in Period 2
Clinical and Developmental
Psychopathology
6.0
P_MEPIDRE
Psychopathology
Period 1+2
12.0
P_MPSYPAT
Randomized Controlled
Trials of Psychological
Interventions
Period 4
6.0
P_MRANCON
Research Project
Period 5+6
12.0
P_MRPRCDP
Scientific Writing and
Presenting (CDP)
Period 1
6.0
P_MSWPCDP
Systematic Reviews and
Period 5
Meta-analyses of
Psychological Interventions
6.0
P_MSYSREV
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Theory of Therapeutic and
Preventive Intervention
Period 3
6.0
P_MTHEOTH
Research master Clinical and developmental psychopathology, year 2, Compulsory
courses
Below the second year compulsory courses.
Vakken:
Naam
Periode
Credits
Code
Master's Thesis
30.0
P_MTHECDP
Practical I: Skills for Clinical
Research
6.0
P_MPRACT1
Practical II: Initiating and
Performing AcademicClinical Research
6.0
P_MPRACT2
Practical III: Advanced
Research Methods in
Clinical and Developmental
Psychopathology
6.0
P_MPRACT3
Trends in Brain and
Behaviour
6.0
P_MTRBRBE
Other information
Opleidingsdelen:
- Subscription terms
Subscription terms
1. For the following of classes and/or for taking an exam, the student
has to register via the Student portal. When a student has registered
himself for the classes of a course, the student is automatically also
registered for the first upcoming exam of the course. When a student is
not registered for the courses of a course (e.g. in case of a resit),
the student registers for the exam only. The student needs to verify
that the registration was successful. The student should timely deregister himself when he decides not to follow a course, or take an
exam.
2. The student needs to register ultimately four weeks before t he start
of the period the course is scheduled for. Registration for an exam is
possible till two weeks before the date of the exam. Late registration
will result in administration costs.
3. De-registering for a course is possible via the Student portal till
four weeks before the start of the period a course is scheduled for.
De-registering for an exam is possible via het Student portal till two
weeks before the date of the exam. In case of circumstances beyond
one’s control it is possible to de-register after the official deVrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek - RM Clinical and Developmental Psychopath - 2011-2012
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registration deadlines at the programme secretariat for a course or
exam.
4. Registration for courses and exams after the deadline is still
possible if you pay 25 euro administration fee; calculated per course.
The administration fee is maximized at 50 euro’s a time. In the case
the student thinks to have a justified reason for a late registration,
the student can ask the Faculty board for release of these costs. The
decision of the Faculty board is binding in this case.
5. When a student does not appear at the exam, without de-registering,
the result will be booked as ‘no show’.
Aging and Mental Health
Course code
P_MAGMENT ()
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
In this course, students will learn the psychological problems of older
people and what is known about the effectiveness of psychological
interventions.
Course content
The number of people 65 years or older in the Netherlands is increasing
from 2,4 million now to 3,6 million in 2025. Psychological problems in
later life need their own psychological interventions to reduce or
prevent them. However, research in this field is still limited. In this
course, students will learn about the psychological problems of older
people and what is known about the effectiveness of psychological
interventions. These interventions are partly developed for younger
adults and adapted for seniors, and partly specifically developed for
problems in later life, such as providing family care and coping with
losses, chronic diseases and disabilities. Because older adults form a
heterogeneous and multiform group, scientific research on the
effectiveness of interventions has its own problems. In this course,
these problems and the challenges and threats of intra-individual
techniques will be discussed. Students will learn how to design an
experimental N=1 study and to analyze time series data. They will
participate in the ongoing research on the effectiveness of
psychological interventions for older adults (RCT or N=1) affiliated to
the Chair Geropsychology and write a paper based on the data.
Form of tuition
Visit to long-term care Facility, lectures and active involvement of
students.
Type of assessment
Written exam, oral presentation, paper, and research proposal.
Remarks
This course will not be lectured during 2011/12.
Autism and Developmental Disorders
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Course code
P_MAUTDEV ()
Period
Period 1
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
This course will offer a critical overview of recent research on
phenotype, cause, prevalence, co-morbidity, assessment and treatment of
autism spectrum disorders. Students will also be informed about the most
recent assessment and treatment methods available in the Netherlands.
Course content
Autism Spectrum Disorders are complex neurobiological disorders that
last throughout an individual’s lifetime. With a prevalence of 1 in 150,
they are more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
However, few disorders seem more confusing than autism. Common
stereotypes, of the withdrawn, mute child with repetitive activities, do
no justice to the wide variety of individuals with an autism spectrum
diagnosis. To date, there is no single treatment protocol for all
children with autism spectrum disorders. More importantly, the
information about the effectiveness of treatments is very limited. While
the main focus will be on autism, several other disorders with
overlapping problem domains will also be discussed.
Form of tuition
Lectures and presentation meetings.
Type of assessment
Written exam, oral presentation and research proposal.
Remarks
This course will not be lectured during 2011/12.
Brain, Cognition, and Mental Health
Course code
P_MBRCOGM ()
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
This course addresses the biological and psychosocial mechanisms which
determine mental function and dysfunction, based on a developmental
approach towards brain-behaviour relationships.
Course content
Cognitive problems can be the result of a (neuro) psychiatric or
neurological condition, such as depression of acquired brain damage
(e.g. Traumatic Brain Injury). On the other hand, impairment of
efficient information processing can also be the cause of development of
affective problems. This may be the case in varying states such as
Attention Deficit Disorder, depression and Mild Cognitive Impairment.
The course takes a multidimensional viewpoint where the various factors
which are of importance have to be integrated. It also takes a
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developmental viewpoint. A thorough understanding of normal cognitive
development is essential before issues in abnormal development may be
considered. What neurobiological or psychosocial mechanisms can be
identified that may lie at the basis of this difference between normal
and abnormal development? Relevant theories, state-of-the-art research,
and clinical approaches (e.g., treatment protocols) will be evaluated
while addressing this question. In addition, students will be broadly
acquainted with typical research methods that are custom in the area of
cognitive development, such as cross-sectional and longitudinal designs,
and the statistical strategies that are used to make inferences from
such studies. This will be the basis for developing their own research
proposal.
Form of tuition
Lectures and seminars.
Type of assessment
Written exam and research proposal.
Remarks
This course will not be lectured during 2011/12.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Course code
P_MCOBETH ()
Period
Period 4
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Coordinator
prof. dr. W.J.M.J. Cuijpers
Teaching staff
prof. dr. W.J.M.J. Cuijpers, prof. dr. M. van der Gaag
Teaching method(s)
Lecture
Course objective
The students will have an overview of the state of the art in research
on cognitive behaviour therapy; they will critically evaluate the
scientific status of the research in the field; they will design
research studies in a group session as well as in an individual
presentation.
Course content
Cognitive behaviour therapy is by far the best examined psychotherapy,
which has been applied in many target groups and in a range of mental
health and general medical conditions. Cognitive behaviour therapy is
the best intervention to use as an example of how research on
psychotherapy can be conducted. In this course we focus on the core
elements of what cognitive behaviour therapy is, in which target groups
it can be used and how it can be adapted for using it in different
target groups. We will also focus on the cognitive theories of mental
disorders. It can also be used very well to explain the problems of
examining how therapies work (mediators and moderators). Furthermore, we
will focus on how to design studies using this type of therapy.
Form of tuition
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Lectures
Type of assessment
Oral presentation and research proposal.
Course reading
Dobson & Dobson (2009) Evidence-based Practice of Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy; New York, Guildford Press
- a reader with recent papers.
Emotional Disorders and Suicide
Course code
P_MEMDISS ()
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
This course offers research students the opportunity to learn how to
define and measure anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies, how to
conduct epidemiological research, intervention research, how to
summarize empirical knowledge in this field, and how to draw conclusions
for prevention policies.
Course content
Depression and anxiety disorder belong to the disorders with the highest
disease burden, with about 15% of the Dutch population meeting criteria
for these disorders in the past year. In this course we focus on
research on these disorders in children, adolescents and adults. We
focus on the crucial role of emotion regulation and in agreement with
the tenets of developmental psychopathology, dysfunctional emotional
processes will be identified, as well as the most important factors
(biological, psychological and social) that presumably caused children’s
emotional development to go awry. We also focus on the most important
other psychological theories which explain emotional disorders,
including behavioural theories, cognitive theories and general stressvulnerability models. Particular attention will also be paid to suicide
and suicidal behaviour. Finally, we will focus on the most important
evidence-based therapies for depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviour
in all age groups.
Form of tuition
Lectures and presentation meetings.
Type of assessment
Written exam, oral presentation and research proposal.
Remarks
This course will not be lectured during 2011/12.
Epidemiological Research in Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology
Course code
P_MEPIDRE ()
Period
Period 2
Credits
6.0
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Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Teaching method(s)
Lecture
Course objective
In this course the students learn the methods and principles of
epidemiological research in clinical and developmental psychopathology.
Course content
Students will learn what the contribution of epidemiological research
has been to our knowledge about etiology, diagnostics, prognosis,
prevention, and treatment of mental disorders in children, adolescents
and adults. The students will learn the most basic skills in conducting
epidemiological research and to judge the quality of epidemiological
research from other researchers. We will also focus on the principles
and criteria for causality, internal and external validity, different
types of errors, confounding, and effect modification. Furthermore, we
will teach students the specific methods of conducting prospective
research in developmental and clinical psychopathology.
Form of tuition
Lectures as well as seminars.
Type of assessment
Writing a paper, written exam.
Juvenile Delinquency and Antisocial Development
Course code
P_MJUVDEL ()
Period
Period 4
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Teaching staff
prof. dr. P.A.C. van Lier
Teaching method(s)
Lecture, Seminar
Course objective
The goal of this course is to make students acquainted with the
development of antisocial behaviour.
Course content
Of all children, approximately 20-30% will eventually engage in some
form of antisocial behaviour or delinquent acts. A minority of those
will engage in persistent antisocial behaviour from childhood onwards.
In this course the influence of social relational en environmental risks
throughout the childhood and adolescent years is discussed. Focus is on
biosocial and genetic influences, and their interplay with environmental
and social relational risk variables. These factors are presented using
a developmental approach. That is, we focus is on how personal
endowments, and social, behavioural and relational risk factors
influence the stable high levels, but also increases and decreases in
antisocial behaviour over the period of childhood and adolescence.
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Form of tuition
Lectures and presentation meetings.
Type of assessment
Oral presentation and research proposal.
Master's Thesis
Course code
P_MTHECDP ()
Credits
30.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
The aim of the Master’s Thesis is to integrate the knowledge and skills
acquired during the Research Master, and to apply this knowledge and
skills in research.
Course content
The Master’s Thesis will be developed and conducted within the research
program of one of the participating departments. During this period, the
student will be member of a research group, and will be involved in all
phases of the scientific cycle. The quality of the Thesis will be
guaranteed by a ‘go-no go’ decision, which will be made by a senior
staff member based on a written research plan, including the research
question, field research or experimental protocol, statistical design
and feasibility. In principle, the student will contribute with his or
her work to an ongoing research project. Daily coaching will be the
responsibility of the principal investigator of the project. As part of
the Master’s Thesis the student will log all major phases of conducting
research (protocol design, data collection, data management, data
analysis) as well as reporting (writing a manuscript fulfilling the APA
requirements for a journal article; revising the manuscript based on
anonymous reviewer feedback; presenting a research paper at a
symposium). The Master's Thesis is written in the form of an article,
which, as a rule, will be submitted for publication to an international,
peer-reviewed journal.
Form of tuition
Individual trajectory within one of the participating research groups.
Type of assessment
Paper, research log, oral presentation.
Parenting and Mental Health
Course code
P_MPARMEN ()
Period
Period 4
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Coordinator
prof. dr. C. Schuengel
Teaching staff
prof. dr. C. Schuengel, dr. M. Oosterman
Teaching method(s)
Lecture
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Course objective
To gain theoretical insight in the models that connect parenting to the
development of psychopathology, either as a risk or a resilience factor.
To scrutinize the assumptions of current research that examines
environmentally mediated linkages between parenting and development and
models of intergenerational transmission of psychopathology. To learn
how to avoid common confounds in parenting-mental health research.
Course content
Parents play a crucial role in the development of mental health in their
children. Understanding this role is crucial for promoting public mental
health, for example through preventive programs, or through support and
intervention for parents of children at risk. From the perspective of
developmental psychopathology, the role of parenting at different system
levels is highlighted. This includes an in-depth theoretical treatment
of parent-child relationships, as well as parental behaviour and
socialization practices, the exposure of children to conflicts between
parents, and child maltreatment. Particular attention is paid to
research that links parenting to psychobiological development, and to
research into the buffer that parenting may provide against risk factors
for the development of psychopathology, including chronic disease,
physical and intellectual disabilities, bullying, and instable family
arrangements. This course also pays attention to the methodological
challenges in distinguishing environmental family effects from
biological effects, including the use of interventions as well as
experiments of nature such as adoption or foster care.
Form of tuition
Lectures and seminars.
Type of assessment
Written exam and research proposal.
Practical I: Skills for Clinical Research
Course code
P_MPRACT1 ()
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
Within this module, students acquire specific techniques and expertise
for conducting research with clients.
Course content
Clinical and developmental psychopathology is an interdisciplinary
field, in which a broad array of research techniques and paradigms are
used. Students can choose to learn three specific (non-generic) skills
or techniques, under intensive tutoring by experts in these methods.
Form of tuition
Small groups of students are tutored and trained in three research
techniques by expert researchers.
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Type of assessment
paper in lab-report format.
Practical II: Initiating and Performing Academic-Clinical Research
Course code
P_MPRACT2 ()
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
The aim of this course is to learn how to obtain funding, initiate, and
succesfully conduct clinical researdh.
Course content
This course focuses on the problem of funding, initiating and executing
academic-clinical research. Exemplary models for this type of research
will be presented and evaluated. Students will practice the development
of research proposals that include all elements required by funding
agencies, including METC requirements.
Form of tuition
Lectures and seminars.
Type of assessment
Review, oral presentation and paper including a study design.
Practical III: Advanced Research Methods in Clinical and Developmental
Psychopathology
Course code
P_MPRACT3 ()
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
Students learn how to analyze longitudinal data.
Course content
The focus will be on the Multilevel Models of Change and to a lesser
extent on Structural Growth Models. Theory and practice alternate.
Students will be invited to bring in their own data sets during the
practicals. By the end of the course students will be familiar with the
major concepts and statistical terms of longitudinal data analyses and
will be able to analyze their own longitudinal data. Lectures,
practicals and assignments. Each lecture is followed by a practical, and
each practical is followed by analyzing a data set and writing a paper.
Papers comprise a short introduction, a method section, results section
and conclusion. Computer programmes to be used are SPSS and MlwiN.
Form of tuition
Lectures and practicals.
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Type of assessment
6 assignments , 2 multiple choice tests.
Psychopathology
Course code
P_MPSYPAT ()
Period
Period 1+2
Credits
12.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Teaching method(s)
Lecture, Seminar
Course objective
The aim of this course is to integrate clinical and developmental
perspectives of psychopathology, to achieve a thorough theoretical
understanding of the developmental origins of mental health, and the
clinical presentation of disorders. This course aims to build a firm
theoretical foundation for the program components to follow, to provide
an orientation on a variety of approaches, and to stimulate the process
of integrating different perspectives.
Course content
Topics covered address physiological, genetic, cognitive, socialemotional, ecological, and relational factors as these relate to risks
as well as protective factors for the development of mental health
problems. Based on this broad showcase of perspectives, specific issues
are addressed for the field of clinical and developmental
psychopathology, namely the different approaches towards classification,
etiology, and treatment.
Form of tuition
Lectures as well as seminars.
Type of assessment
Writing an essay, performing oral presentations, written exam.
Randomized Controlled Trials of Psychological Interventions
Course code
P_MRANCON ()
Period
Period 4
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Coordinator
prof. dr. W.J.M.J. Cuijpers
Teaching staff
prof. dr. W.J.M.J. Cuijpers, prof. dr. A. van Straten
Teaching method(s)
Lecture, Practical
Course objective
The aim of this course is to give insight into the different aspects of
conducting randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions
in mental health care.
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Course content
The course focuses on the design of the study including the formulation
of the goal of the study (research hypotheses), trial registries and
writing applications for a medical ethical committee. Furthermore, the
quality criteria for conducting interventions are discussed (using
treatment manuals, training of therapists, how to conduct integrity
checks), as well as the methodological issues in designing randomized
controlled trials (methods of randomization, power calculations). We
also focus on the analytical methods of trials, including different
methods of conducting intention-to-treat analyses and how to deal with
missing data. We also focus on non-inferiority and equivalence trials,
cost-effectiveness studies, and how to examine mediators and moderators
in randomized controlled trials.
Form of tuition
Lectures as well as seminars.
Type of assessment
Paper, written exam.
Course reading
Nezu, A.M. & Nezu, C.M. (2008) Evidence-based outcome research; New
York: Oxford University Press.
Research Project
Course code
P_MRPRCDP ()
Period
Period 5+6
Credits
12.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
The aim of the Year 1 Research Project is to integrate the skills and
knowledge of the first year of the Research Master, after the students
have taken their first step towards differentiation within the field of
clinical and developmental psychopathology.
Course content
During this part of the Research Master, the students will develop a
research plan which is in line with the Elective Course the student has
chosen. This research plan will be tutored by one of the senior
researchers from the participating research groups. The plan will
consist of several sections, including a description of the problem
which will be examined, a research question, with specific hypothesis,
and a methods section which contains all the components of the methods,
such as the research population, procedures, data collection,
measurement instruments, and the proposed analyses.
Form of tuition
Individual trajectory within one of the participating research groups.
Type of assessment
Development of plan, oral presentation.
Scientific Writing and Presenting (CDP)
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Course code
P_MSWPCDP ()
Period
Period 1
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Coordinator
prof. dr. J.M. Koot
Teaching method(s)
Lecture
Course objective
This module aims to develop two important academic skills: writing, and
presenting. Students will learn to write an article for a peer-reviewed
academic journal.
Course content
The focus will be on writing an empirical article, although attention is
also given to the writing of a literature review or a theoretical
article. The course addresses key problem areas in written English and
APA guidelines. Second, students will learn to present empirical
research for international audiences (e.g., oral presentation). The
module addresses issues such as structuring a presentation, responding
to questions, and the use media of facilities.
Form of tuition
Lectures
Type of assessment
Writing a paper, oral presentation.
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Psychological Interventions
Course code
P_MSYSREV ()
Period
Period 5
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Coordinator
prof. dr. W.J.M.J. Cuijpers
Teaching staff
prof. dr. W.J.M.J. Cuijpers, prof. dr. A. van Straten
Teaching method(s)
Lecture, Practical
Course objective
In this course, the students learn how to conduct systematic reviews and
meta-analyses of randomized controlled studies in psychological and
educational sciences. We focus especially on systematic reviews of
psychological interventions for mental health problems. However, we also
teach students how to conduct meta-analyses of observational and
diagnostic studies.
Course content
First, students will learn how to formulate an adequate research
question for a meta-analysis. Then, we will teach them how to conduct
literature searches in major bibliographical databases (PsycINFO,
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane database), the process of selecting studies,
and data extraction. The different methods of calculating effect sizes
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will be explained, as well as random and fixed effects models in pooling
available effect sizes. We will also explain how to conduct subgroup
analyses, univariate and multivariate meta-regression analyses, and
tests for publication bias. The different software packages will be
illustrated. Each student will conduct a (small) meta-analysis as part
of this course.
Form of tuition
Lectures as well as seminars.
Type of assessment
Paper, written exam.
Course reading
- Borenstein. M., Hedges. L.V., Higgins, J.P.T., Rothstein. H.R. (2009)
Introduction to Meta-analysis. Chicester: Wiley
- a reader with recent paper.
Theory of Therapeutic and Preventive Intervention
Course code
P_MTHEOTH ()
Period
Period 3
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Teaching method(s)
Lecture
Course objective
After this course, students should be able to critically analyze
intervention rationales, to judge their empirical support, and to apply
theory in designing interventions for specific problems.
Course content
Interventions to alleviate or prevent psychopathology are expected to be
designed and delivered on a rational basis, which means that a
particular analysis of the clinical problem at hand has led to a wellconsidered choice for therapeutic procedures and tools. However,
explanations why some therapeutic approaches are more effective than
others have remained largely speculative, insofar differences in
effectiveness do exist. For some techniques, theoretical explanations
have been found after these were applied such as with EMDR.
Nevertheless, theoretical insight in the processes through which
interventions reach their effects is necessary for improving
interventions, and for drawing consequences from treatment success for
scientific theory. The goals of this course are to scrutinize the
evidence base for particular therapeutic approaches and intervention
protocols, and to learn how scientific research may test rationales for
particular interventions.
First, non-specific factors contributing to intervention effects are
examined. What are the theories regarding the explanation for the
effects of variables such as working alliance, positive expectations,
emotional security, transference, and attention? How can the results of
theory and research on non-specific factors be used to optimize the
contribution of non-specific factors to treatment effectiveness and
neutralize deleterious effects? Second, specific factors that are used
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as building bricks of specific programs and methods for improving mental
health are examined. Examples are cognitive behavioural techniques
reinforcement schedules, video-feedback based training, EMDR, talking,
and family system interventions. What are the processes that link
specific intervention factors to the clinical problem at hand? Third,
design challenges will be discussed for conducting empirical studies
that may test the theories underlying interventions.
Form of tuition
Lectures as well as seminars with researchers and clinical experts.
Type of assessment
Writing reviews of existing intervention rationales, written exam.
Course reading
Literature:
-Wampold, B.E. (2001) The great psychtherapy debate: Models, methods,
and findings. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Elbaum. ISBN 0-8058-3202-5 (or as
e-book 1-4106-0480-2);
- a reader with recent papers.
Trends in Brain and Behaviour
Course code
P_MTRBRBE ()
Credits
6.0
Language of tuition
English
Faculty
Faculteit der Psychologie en Pedagogiek
Course objective
This integrated series of lectures includes most aspects of basic and
applied neuroscience pertaining to mental health and disorder, by
providing a broad overview.
Course content
The neuropsychological approach to mental health focuses on the
relationship between brain and behaviour. Brain-behaviour relationships
are studied on a continuum ranging from normal to deviant in children,
adolescents, and patient populations. In addition, in the context of
psychopharmacology biological mechanisms are studied which pertain to
neurotransmitters, hormones and drugs acting upon cognitive function and
behaviour. Presented topics will include the neuropsychology of
psychopathology, cognitive aging and development, motor action and
executive control, and pharmacological models of cognitive dysfunction.
Form of tuition
Lectures and seminars.
Type of assessment
Review paper, written exam.
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