Recognising Mental Illness

Programme title:	Recognising Mental Illness
Apply:	direct to the University via the NHS Business Unit
Start (pt):	February
Mode:	part-time
Duration:	2 semesters
Location:	Butterfield Park campus
Faculty:	Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

Summary

This unit has been developed to assist appropriate practitioners to take lead responsibility in the determination of the presence and nature of mental illness in service users within their sphere of practice. This is particularly relevant as since April 2006 the Department of Health has set out guidance to support the implementation of nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing in the NHS in England( DH, 2006). Independent prescribing means that the prescriber takes responsibility for the clinical assessment of the patient, establishing a diagnosis and the clinical management required, as well as responsibility for prescribing where necessary and the appropriateness of any prescription.

Psychiatric diagnosis utilises a differential diagnostic procedure. Mental status examinations are conducted, all relevant histories obtained, and personality and cognitive tests may be administered. A physical examination is also conducted in order to eliminate alternative explanations of the individuals presentation.

There are two main diagnostic manuals used to classify mental disorders in use today, the ICD-10 produced and published by the World Health Organisation and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, produced and published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

Your learning will be supported through a student centred work based learning approach. The unit is evidence based and related to current local and national agenda’s. There will be opportunities for you to engage in a variety of learning experiences. In this way you will be encouraged to take back to your own practice area the key learning outcomes of the unit. This process will be supported by lecturer facilitation, including the delivery of key presentations around the learning outcomes, as well as specialist sessions and the opportunity to develop key skills in a controlled environment, where appropriate.

You will also be required to plan how to meet the unit learning outcomes, in theory and practice, relating them to your own practice environment through the completion of assignments. Additionally your learning will be supported via tutorials, group work, E-learning via BREO and E-learning library resources. You will be able to bring your reflections on experiences in practice to enable integration of theory to practice.

A major part of the learning experience will occur through self directed study, this requires time to reflect, analyse and evaluate experiences from theory and practice, including the client’s journey through care.

Overall these strategies are designed to enable you to develop your current and future practice, whilst being able to effectively contribute to role redesign and service development.

Recommended reading

Essential

Goldberg, D and Murray, R (Editors) (2006) The Maudsley Handbook of Practical Psychiatry 5th Edition Oxford University Press Oxford

Casey , P R. and Kelly, B. (2007) Fish's Clinical Psychopathology: Signs and Symptoms in Psychiatry The Royal College of Psychiatrists London

Semple, D. Smyth, R. Burns, J. Darjee, R. and McIntosh, A (2005) Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry Oxford University Press Oxford

Cooper, J E. (Editor) Pocket Guide to ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: With Glossary and Diagnostic Criteria for Research DCR-10 Churchill Livingstone

Aquilina, C. and Warner, J. (2004) A Guide to Psychiatric Examination Page Bros. Norwich

Puri, B. K. and Hall, A.D. (2004) Revision Notes in Psychiatry 2nd Edition Hodder Arnold

Background

Cox JL. (2002) Commentary towards a more integrated international system of psychiatric classification. Psychopathology. 35:195–196.

Mezzich JE. (2002) Comprehensive diagnosis: a conceptual basis for future diagnostic systems. Psychopathology. 35:162–165.

Mezzich JE. Berganza CE. Von Cranach M, et al. (2003) Idiographic (personalised) diagnostic formulation. British Journal of Psychiatry. 182(Suppl. 45):55–57

Sadler, JZ. (2002) Descriptions and prescriptions: values, mental disorders, and the DSMs. Johns Hopkins University Press; Baltimore

Sadler, JZ. (2004) Values and psychiatric diagnosis. Oxford University Press Oxford

Van Staden CW. (2003) Diagnostic explanation and diagnostic understanding in psychiatry. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 16:667–672.

Entry requirements

NMC registration as a First Level Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse

Fees, Bursaries, Scholarships, Costs

Contact NHS Business Unit for fees.

Attendance

See Unit Delivery Schedule for dates.

Find out more

For further information concerning this unit, contact Mike McGowan

E: mike.mcgowan@beds.ac.uk

How to apply:

Please contact the NHS Business Unit or download an application form from the website.

E: nhs-business-unit@beds.ac.uk
T: 01582 743048
F: 01582 743704

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Recognising Mental Illness