PSYC10004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 27: Health Equity, Mental Disorder, Autism Spectrum
1. Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Mental health: a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises their own abilities, cope with
normal stresses of life and is able to make a contribution of their community
Not just absence of psychological problems
Facts:
• About half of mental disorders begin before age 14
• Worldwide 800,000 people commit suicide every year
• Mental disorders increase risk for physical disorders
• Many health conditions increase risk for mental disorders
• Stigma prevents people seeking healthcare
• Inequality of availabilities of mental health professionals
Clinical Psychology
• Integrates science, theory and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment,
and to support personal development
• Focuses on intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioural aspects
of human functioning across the lifespan, in varying cultures, and at all economic levels
• Evidence based discipline
Psychological services should not be administered until:
• Exact nature of service described clearly
• Claimed benefits stated explicitly
• Benefits validated scientifically
• Possible negative side effects that might outweigh any benefits must be ruled out
empirically
What counts as evidence?
• Quantitative Studies (not qualitative or theoretical)
• Efficacy trials (ideal conditions)
• Effectiveness trials
• More recently:
o Environmental context
o Practitioner expertise
o Population characteristics
o Consumer needs and treatment preferences
• Clients have problems now and we cannot afford to wait for research
• Eah idiidual’s life akes it ulikel that geeral priiples a proide uh useful
guidance
• No research evidence for some of the problems psychologist face on a daily basis
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Australian Clinical Psychology Association Code of Ethics
Clinical Pshologists ill…
• Respect dignity and welfare of all individuals and groups whom they have professional
contact
• Demonstrate continuing competence in their practice of clinical psychology that includes
adequate knowledge, skill, judgement and care
• Aim to maximise and do no harm in their practice of psychology
• Act with integrity and promote accuracy, fairness and honesty in their practice of psychology
• Demonstrate a professional and scientific responsibility to society
Training of a Clinical Psychologist
• Undergraduate: focus on psychology
• 4+ years graduate course work
• Masters or Doctoral Program
• Registration as a general psychologist (Psychology board of Australia)
• Endorsed area of practice in Clinical Psychology (Psychology Board of Australia)
• Membership of Organisations
o Australian clinical Psychology Association
o College of Clinical Psychologists, Australian Psychological Society
Boulder Conference
• Equal weight to science and practice
• PhD required
• Psychologists were scientist-practitioners prepared to work in academia or clinical practice
• Has been dominant model for Clinical Psycholog Training since 1949
Alternatives
• Scholar Practitioner Model
• Interest in training for practice as is the case in law, dentistry, and medicine
• Focus on training practitioners – Allow research finding to inform practice but without focus
on development of research skills
Areas of Clinical Psychologists
• Research 51%
• Teaching 49%
• Psychotherapy 80%
• Assessment 64%
• Consultation 47%
• Administration 53%
• Supervision 50% (a psychologist will
be a psychologist for another
psychologist)
Vocations of Clinical Psychologists
• Hospital (General & Psychiatric)
• Community/outpatient mental health
services
• Private practice (Better Access
Scheme)
• Non-health organisations (Employee
Assistance)
• Universities, Research Institute
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Psychiatry
• Undergraduate/preclinical; focus on biomedical science
• Medical/clinical training
• Internship
• Residency, specialty in psychiatry
• College exams
Clinical Psychologists
• Learn to think as researchers
• To evaluate findings
• Defend their views by citing data
Psychiatrists
• Learn facts and use knowledge to
understand and treat patients
• Specialise in biomedical interventions,
eg. medication
• Both diagnose
• Treat using therapy
Counselling Psychology
• Most similar to clinical psychology
• Training similar
• Tend to deal with problems of adjustment in healthy individuals
• Historically worked within university counselling centres
Clinical Neuropsychology
• Considered a branch of clinical psychology and many parts of world
• In Australia a separate but allied profession
• Similar level of training
• Emphasis on psychological tests to understand brain impairments
• Involved in planning delivery of rehabilitation programs for people with brain impairment
Social Work
• Focus on working with socially disadvantaged people
• Emphasis on therapy but not diagnostic training or emphasis on research
• Work in settings
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Document Summary
Mental health: a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises their own abilities, cope with normal stresses of life and is able to make a contribution of their community. Facts: about half of mental disorders begin before age 14, worldwide 800,000 people commit suicide every year, mental disorders increase risk for physical disorders, many health conditions increase risk for mental disorders, stigma prevents people seeking healthcare. Psychological services should not be administered until: exact nature of service described clearly, claimed benefits stated explicitly, benefits validated scientifically, possible negative side effects that might outweigh any benefits must be ruled out empirically. Boulder conference: equal weight to science and practice, phd required, psychologists were scientist-practitioners prepared to work in academia or clinical practice, has been dominant model for clinical psycholog training since 1949. Alternatives: scholar practitioner model, focus on training practitioners allow research finding to inform practice but without focus.
