HUS 4333 - Assessment & Interventions in Mental Health

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2024 (640)

Requisites

Admission to Human Services (Bachelor of Science) (HUMSVC-BS) or
Admission to Applied Mental Health (Advanced Technical Certificate with Financial Aid Eligibility) (AMH-ATC)

Course Description

This course uses the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as the initial instrument for assessment of psychological disorders. Students will learn how various interview techniques and psychometric testing are used in the overall assessment process. Based on the client’s assessment findings, students will learn to identify appropriate treatment settings that include both in-patient and out-patient settings. Students will also learn the “continuum of care” as an intervention strategy involving an integrated system of care, guiding the client over time through a comprehensive array of mental health services. The effects of sex, gender, race, and culture are integrated into this course.

Course Topics

Emphasis on First Responders
 

Content is contextualized for the  Law Enforcement/First Responder cohort program. These topic sections will only be made available to the students in the cohort.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. Students will distinguish the accepted principles and practices of the diagnostic process through the use of the current edition of the DSM by:
    1. comparing/contrasting possible benefits and limitations associated with the use of the DSM.
    2. discriminating the appropriate use of diagnosis during a crisis, disaster, or other traumatic events.
  2. Students will examine psychometric tests used as part of the assessment process by:
    1. differentiating amongst types of psychometric tests such as surveys, aptitude/ability, intelligence, projective, and inventory tests.
    2. critiquing psychological measurements for reliability, validity, and biases.
    3. evaluating legal and ethical issues in the use of psychometric testing.
    4. scrutinizing potential biases with different diagnostic tools when working with multicultural populations.
  3. Students will determine the appropriate level of intervention for effective treatment in various settings such as residential treatment centers, in-patient hospitalization, rehabilitation centers, out-patient settings, partial hospitalization, community mental health centers, private practice, and telehealth service by:
    1. identifying placement criteria for different treatment settings which are supported by the empirical literature.
    2. distinguishing the developmental needs of children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric adults when determining an appropriate treatment setting.
    3. identifying the role informed consent plays in determining appropriate treatment settings.
    4. identifying the ethical elements expected when making a referral to another treatment care provider.
  4. Students will examine three different intervention goals, which include primary, secondary, and tertiary goals through the continuum of care by:
    1. exploring the continuum of care as an intervention strategy involving an integrated system of care guiding the client over time through a comprehensive array of health services.
    2. investigating and selecting appropriate educational materials for clients, family members, and caregivers to prevent mental illness and restore mental health.
    3. scrutinizing techniques for promoting client safety in the transition between and across the mental healthcare system.
    4. differentiating collaboration techniques when working with other professional disciplines to provide client care and safety.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2024 (640)

Related Programs

  1. Applied Mental Health (AMH-ATC) (660) (Active)
  2. Human Services (HUMSVC-BS) (640) (Active)