Description
Exposure to a potentially traumatic event, such as accidents, disasters, abuse or violence is quite common. Individual responses to trauma vary widely. Whereas most people will not experience long-term mental health effects after exposure to trauma, on others it may have long-lasting and diverse effects on their health and life.
In this course students learn about the psychological and neurobiological processes that are involved in mental health development after exposure to trauma. The effects of trauma will be studied in a wide array of psychopathology besides posttraumatic stress disorder, including depression, substance use, personality disorders, and suicidality. The impact of trauma will be reviewed over the course of life and on various life domains (i.e., identity development, emotion regulation, and cognitive and social functioning). This course will also cover factors related to resilience. Finally, students will learn about the evidence-based guidelines for prevention, diagnostics and treatment of trauma-related psychological disorders.
Course objectives
Upon completion of this course, students:
Can explain the psychosocial and neurobiological processes after traumatic exposure and how this relates to mental health development during the life course;
Can explain the potential role of trauma in various psychological disorders and the impact of trauma on various life domains;
Can summarize the evidence-based guidelines for prevention, diagnostics and treatment of trauma- and stressor-related psychological disorders;
Have gained detailed knowledge about current clinical research controversies in the domain of trauma.
Timetable
t.b.a.
Registration
Education
Students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials and practicals) they wish to follow. You can register up to 5 days prior to the start of the course.
Exams
It is mandatory for all students to register for each exam and to confirm registration for each exam in My Studymap. This is possible up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the examination. You cannot take an exam without a valid pre-registration and confirmation in My Studymap. Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Exchange students and external guest students will be informed by the education administration about the current registration procedure.
Mode of instruction
This course consists of 4 blocks of 2 weeks:
- Definition and typology of trauma and history of the PTSD concept;
- Psychological and neurobiological consequences of traumatic events and chronic stress;
- Evidence based guidelines for prevention, diagnostics and treatment of trauma-related psychopathology;
- Innovations in prevention and treatment of trauma-related psychopathology
In every block, there will be a combination of live (web-)lectures, knowledge clips and videotutorials.
Assessment method
Fulfilment of the course objectives is based on assignments concerning critical review of scientific literature.
Reading list
t.b.a.
Contact information
Dr. Joanne Mouthaan j.mouthaan@fsw.leidenuniv.nl