PYMTRT-Evidence-Based Low Intensity Treatment of Common Mental Health Problems

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Spring (Double presentation)
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mrs Eleanor Vialls
Email: e.j.vialls@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) aid clinical improvement through the provision of information and support for evidence-based low-intensity psychological treatments and regularly used pharmacological treatments of common mental health problems. Low-intensity psychological treatments place a greater emphasis on patient self-management and are designed to be less burdensome to people undertaking them than traditional psychological treatments. Examples include providing support for a range of low intensity CBT self-help interventions including behavioural activation, exposure, cognitive restructuring, panic management, problem solving, sleep hygiene as well as supporting written and computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) packages.

Aims:

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) aid clinical improvement through the provision of information and support for evidence-based low-intensity psychological treatments and regularly used pharmacological treatments of common mental health problems. Low-intensity psychological treatments place a greater emphasis on patient self-management and are designed to be less burdensome to people undertaking them than traditional psychological treatments. The overall delivery of these interventions is informed by behaviour change models and strategies. Examples of interventions include providing support for a range of low-intensity self-help interventions (often with the use of written self-help materials) informed by cognitive-behavioural principles, such as behavioural activation, exposure, cognitive restructuring, panic management, problem solving, CBT-informed sleep management, and computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) packages as well as supporting physical exercise and medication adherence. Support is specifically designed to enable people to optimise their use of self-management recovery information and pharmacological treatments and may be delivered individually or to groups of patients (psychoeducational groups) and through face-to-face, telephone, email or other contact methods. PWPs must also be able to manage any change in risk status. This module will, therefore, equip PWPs with a good understanding of the process of therapeutic support and the management of individuals and groups of patients including families, friends and carers. Skills teaching will develop PWPs general and disorder-defined ‘specific factor’ competencies in the delivery of low-intensity treatments informed by cognitive-behavioural principles and in the support of medication concordance.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students must demonstrate:

1) Ability to critically evaluate a range of evidence-based interventions and strategies to assist patients manage their emotional distress and disturbance.

2) Knowledge of, and competence in developing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance with patients during their treatment programme, including dealing with issues and events that threaten the alliance.

3) Competence in planning a collaborative low-intensity psychological and/or pharmacological treatment programme for common mental health problems, including managing the ending of contact.

4) In-depth understanding of, and competence in the use of, a range of low-intensity, evidence-based psychological interventions for common mental health problems.

5) Knowledge and understanding of, and competence in using behaviour change models and strategies in the delivery of low-intensity interventions

6) Ability to critically evaluate the role of case management and stepped care approaches to managing common mental health problems in primary care including ongoing risk management appropriate to service protocols.

7) Knowledge of, and competence in supporting people with medication, in particular antidepressant medication, to help them optimise their use of pharmacological treatment and minimise any adverse effects.

8) Competency in delivering low-intensity interventions using a range of methods including face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication.