Learn About Mental Disorders – Online Course

• Learn about mood disorders, anxiety, drug disorders, personality disorders, different psychological conditions, genetic, physical and environmental influences, assessment, diagnostic criteria, treatment etc.
• Study format – online or by eLearning (USB). Payment options available.
• Work at your own pace. No course end date. Study as slowly or as quickly as you like.
• 100 hours. 11 lessons. 11 assignments covering theory + practical learning – assignments + exercises + projects. 
• No deadlines.  Prompt marking from expert and experienced tutors. Support available from tutors via phone or online.
• Useful for anyone working with individuals struggling with their mental health. Study for professional development or personal interest.

Lesson Structure

There are 11 lessons in this course:

1. Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy
   • Criteria for Determining Abnormality
   • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
   • Childhood Disorders.
   • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
   • Conduct Disorder.
   • Learning Disabilities.
   • Asperger's Disorder.
   • Stereotypic Movement Disorder.
   • Normal Functioning.
   • Depression in Childhood.
   • Anxiety Disorders.
   • Types of Therapy: Adlerian, Behaviourism, Existential, Gestalt, Person Centred Therapy, Psycho analysis, Rational Emotive, Reality Therapy, Transactional.
2. Delirium, Dementia, Amnesic and Other Cognitive Disorders
   • Types of Cognitive Disorders.
   • Delirium.
   • Dementia.
   • Types of Dementia.
   • Alzheimer's Disease.
   • Comparing Dementia and Delirium.
   • Amnesia.
   • Cognitive Disorder NOS.
   • Pseudo Dementia.
   • Research Methods in Biopsychology.
3. Substance-Related Disorders
   • Scope and nature of Substance Abuse.
   • Reasons for Using Drugs.
   • Substance Dependence.
   • Intoxication and Withdrawal.
   • Alcohol Dependence and DTs.
   • Substance Dependence.
   • Substance Abuse.
   • Drug Misuse.
   • Classes of Drugs.
   • Amphetamines.
   • Cocaine.
   • Crack.
   • Opium and Heroin.
   • LSD.
   • Other Drugs, Steroids, Ritalin, Inhalants, etc.
   • Risks with Specific Drugs.
   • Older Adults Susceptible to Prescription Misuse.
4. Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
   • Scope and Nature.
   • Psychosis.
   • Treating Psychosis.
   • Schizoaffective Disorders.
   • Delusional (Paranoid) Disorders.
   • Onset of Schizophrenia.
   • Symptoms of Schizophrenia.
   • Treating Schizophrenia.
   • Schizophrenia and Violence.
   • Biology of Schizophrenia.
   • Antipsychotic Medications.
   • Psychosocial Treatments.
   • Role of the Patients Support System.
5. Mood Disorders
   • Depressive Disorders.
   • Determining Type of Depression.
   • Unipolar Disorders and Bipolar Disorders.
   • Risk Factors for Depression.
   • Men and Depression.
   • Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment.
   • Types of Treatment.
6. Anxiety Disorders
   • Scope and Nature.
   • Anxiety Symptoms.
   • Generalised Anxiety Disorders.
   • Phobic Anxiety Disorders.
   • Panic Disorder.
   • Treatments: Intervention, Drugs, etc.
   • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
7. Somatoform, Factitious, and Dissociative Disorders
   • Somatisation Disorder.
   • Conversion Disorder.
   • Pain Disorder.
   • Hypochondriasis.
   • Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
   • Factitious Disorders: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis.
   • Munchausen's Syndrome.
   • Disconnective Disorders.
   • Psychogenic Amnesia.
   • Psychogenic Fugue.
   • Disconnective Identity Disorder.
   • Depersonalisation Disorder.
8. Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
   • Scope and Nature.
   • Hypoactive Sexual Disorder.
   • Sexual Aversion.
   • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder.
   • Male Erectile Disorder.
   • Female and Male Orgasmic Disorders.
   • Premature Ejaculation.
   • Dispareunia.
   • Vaginismus.
   • Secondary Sexual Dysfunction.
   • Paraphilia.
   • Paedophilia.
   • Gender Identity Disorder (Transexualism).
9. Eating and Sleep Disorders
   • Scope and nature of Eating Disorders.
   • Anorexia Nervosa.
   • Bulimia.
   • Binge Eating Disorder.
   • Treatment Strategies.
   • Research Findings and Directions.
   • Sleep Disorders: Scope and Nature.
   • Treatments for Sleep Apnoea.
   • Prognosis for Sleep Apnoea.
10. Impulse-Control Disorders, Adjustment Disorder
    • Symptoms of Adjustment Disorders.
    • Risk Factors for Adjustment Disorders.
    • Impulse Control Disorders.
    • Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
    • Kleptomania.
    • Pyromania.
    • Pathological Gambling.
    • Trichotillomania.
    • Compulsive Skin Picking.
11. Personality Disorders
    • Scope and Nature of Personality Disorders.
    • Antisocial Personality Disorder.
    • Avoidant Personality Disorder.
    • Dependent Personality Disorder.
    • Histrionic Personality Disorder.
    • Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
    • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.
    • Paranoid Personality Disorder.
    • Schizoid Personality Disorder.
    • Borderline Personality Disorder: Symptoms, Treatment, Research, etc.

What will I learn on the course? 

• Mood disorders

• Anxiety disorders

• Psychosis

• Food disorders

• Disorders that diagnosed in infancy. 

• Identify the signs and symptoms of different psychological conditions - disorders may be caused by environmental, physical, or genetic influences.

• Behavioural triggers

• How the human mind and how it works. 

Who Should Study This Course?

 Counsellors or support workers specifically benefit from this course by developing expertise in assessing psychological disorders and making informed client referrals.  This course is also useful for anyone who is interested in the human mind or works with people who are experiencing mental health difficulties, such as -

• Counsellors
• Mental health professionals
• Nurses
• Doctors
• Teachers
• Support workers
• Charity workers
• Care assistants
• Foster carers

Who are the course writers and tutors for this course?

Course written and tutored by international experts including -

• Jacinda Cole, B.Sc., M. Psych. - psychologist, author, educator, experienced working with children in hospitals
• Jade Sciacia, B. Sc.(Hons) -former playleader and teacher, author and educator for over 2 decades
• Tracey Jones M.Soc.Sc, B.Sc (Hons) PG Dip. DipSW - psychologist, author, educator, experienced in working with adults and children with learning disabilities for over 3 decades

Why Study This Course?

• Improve your job and career prospects working with people with mental health.
• Demonstrate your interest in improving your knowledge of mental health.
• Study for personal interest or career progression.

Any Questions?

Please click here to contact a tutor Or Request a course handbook here.