Entry requirements
Only open to MSc Psychology (research) students with specialisation Clinical or Health and Medical Psychology
Description
In this course the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of a variety of chronic diseases (e.g. coronary heart disease, pain syndromes, cancer, diabetes) will be addressed. The assessment of psychosocial problems associated with these diseases as well as frequently used psychological assessment instruments measuring these psychosocial problems will be discussed, both from a conceptual and methodological perspective. In addition, the theoretical concepts related to determinants/predictors of psychosocial problems (e.g. illness perceptions, stress, coping) will be addressed. Finally, the evaluation of generic as well as disease-specific psychosocial interventions that focus on improving health-related quality of life and/or self-management in patients with chronic disease will be discussed.
In the interactive seminars the psychometric aspects of different assessment instruments and the methodology and effectiveness of specific intervention techniques and strategies in patients with chronic disease will be discussed. The principles underlying cognitive-behaviour therapy and self-regulation theory will serve as a theoretical framework.
Course objectives
Students acquire knowledge about a variety of chronic diseases, including clinical characteristics, epidemiology, psychosocial consequences and interventions.
Students learn to reflect on the assessment of the psychosocial consequences of chronic diseases, including psychometric issues, and on the relevance and effectiveness of psychological interventions in chronic patients.
Students discuss a meta-analysis on the effect of psychological interventions in chronic disease.
Students acquire research skills allowing them to develop, conduct, and evaluate interventions for patients with chronic somatic conditions.
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures, work groups and exams, please select your study programme in:
Psychology timetables
Registration
Course
Students need to enroll for lectures and work group sessions.
Master’s course registration
Examination
Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date. Students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination.
Registering for exams
Mode of instruction
7 2-hour review-type lectures
7 3-hour seminars/workgroups (Attendance is mandatory)
Assessment method
The final grade is based on a written exam, consisting of essay questions (40%) and a paper (discussion of a meta-analysis) (60%). Students have to pass both the exam and the paper.
Study material for the exam
Boyer, B.A., Paharia, M.I. (Eds.) (2008). Comprehensive Handbook of Clinical Health Psychology. Hoboken: J. Wiley & Sons. (Chapter 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15).
The presentations of the lectures posted on Blackboard.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has instituted that instructors use a software programme for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. In case of fraud disciplinary actions will be taken. Please see the information concerning fraud.
Reading list
Compulsory:
Boyer, B.A., Paharia, M.I. (Eds.) (2008). Comprehensive Handbook of Clinical Health Psychology. Hoboken: J. Wiley & Sons.
Optional:
Fink, A. (2014). Conducting research literature reviews. From the internet to paper. (Fourth Edition).
Contact information
Dr. Véronique De Gucht
degucht@fsw.leidenuniv.nl