PY3RCD-Reward Dysfunction in Clinical Disorders

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites: PY2RM Research Methods and Data Analysis or PY2RMP Research methods in Psychology
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Ciara McCabe
Email: c.mccabe@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Reward Dysfunction in Clinical DisordersÌý

Aims:

The aim of this option is to enable students to explore, in depth, the nature of reward processing in the human brain and how this is affected in clinical disorders. The option aims to give students experience of critical evaluation of existing research and theoretical perspectives into the identification of neurobiological biomarkers within the psychiatry literature; to help them develop the ability to study independently; to give them experience of current research being undertaken in the department.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module the student will be able to:

1.Critically analyse the need for biomarker discovery in psychiatry.Ìý

2. Critically evaluate how we currently understand psychiatric disorders and their treatment.Ìý

3. Debate the evidence for and against the current classification systems in psychiatry.

Additional outcomes:

Students will gain experience from participating in evaluative discussions of research and theory in large and small groups. The module additionally provides an opportunity for students to improve Ìýtheir essay-writing skills to present an argument.

Outline content:

In this module we will discuss how clinical psychiatric disorders are currently classified and the problems this poses. We will discuss how disorders have been examined with the use of neuroimaging (emotion processing- negative bias). We will discuss issues surrounding the use of neural reward processing (positive processing) as a target for psychiatric disorder research. We will discuss how we define reward processing and consider some of the issues associated with assessing subjective reports in psychiatric disorder research compared with neurobiological measures. We will look at the effects of current pharmacological treatments on the reward response on the human brain. The focus will be on how we might be able to use human experimental models for the development of more specific drug treatments for disorders such as depression and eating disorders. We will discuss the benefits and pitfalls of human psychopharmacological fMRI studies and the direction needed to address these issues.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The course will include a variety of learning methods during seminars including interactive discussions and practical activities.Ìý