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This module will introduce students to the current evidence on a broad range of mental health topics relating to psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including epidemiology, mechanisms, prevention and treatments. Students will learn about the occurrence and impact of different types of trauma across the life-span, ranging across areas such as developmental trauma, childhood adversity, domestic violence, occupational trauma and natural disasters. The module will inform students about different types on PTSD, common co-morbidities that arise and the way in which current treatments aim to alleviate symptoms. Through neuroscience and psychological models, the module aims to enhance understanding of why related symptoms develop and persist.

A key goal of the module is to inspire and equip students with the skills and specialist knowledge to inform clinical work and pursue further academic research in the field of psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The module will have a strong focus on research regarding different types of psychological trauma, different populations affected by PTSD, the mechanisms underlying symptoms, and interventions used for treatment.

Content will be delivered through lectures led by specialists from the Division of Psychiatry and other leading mental health institutions. At the Division of Psychiatry we have links with a range of experts in the field of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Methods of delivery will include online preparation (online Moodle content) and practical exercises that will take place between sessions. These will include exercises such as the evaluation of existing papers and clinical guidelines and the evaluation of case studies.

Learning outcomes:

• To describe and evaluate current evidence on the epidemiology of trauma-related disorders, such as PTSD, complex-PTSD, psychosis and borderline personality disorder).
• To describe and evaluate evidence on specific risk factors for mental health problems in those experiencing different types of trauma, for example: childhood abuse, bullying, domestic violence, refugees, war veterans, torture and natural disasters.
• To describe and evaluate current evidence on the prevention and management of PTSD and other trauma related mental health problems.
• To describe and evaluate current neuroscience and psychological models of mental health issues concerning trauma and PTSD.
• To describe and evaluate evidence on current recommended psychological interventions used for prevention and treatment of PTSD (e.g., trauma focused CBT and eye movement desensitization reprocessing).
• To describe and evaluate the evidence on the development and testing of interventions for trauma-related disorders and their associated symptoms, as well as for their common comorbidities.
• To describe the challenges of conducting research concerning trauma and PTSD, focusing on the ethics, models of involvement and measurement.
• To collate, evaluate and present in poster format the current evidence relating to one key issue in trauma and PTSD research.