disciplines of clinical psychologyy.pptx

This presentation has information about different disciplines of psychology and recent advances in those areas.

1. Recent Advances in Clinical Psychology: Development of other areas Prof. (Dr.) Amool R. Singh President IACP Professor Dept of Clinical Psychology, RINPAS, Kanke, Ranchi

2. Clinical Psychology The field of Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory and practice to understand and alleviate maladjustment, disability and discomfort as well as to promote human adaptation, adjustment and personal development. Clinical Psychology focuses on the intellectual, emotional biological, psychological social and behavioural aspects of human functioning across the life span, in varying cultures, and at all socio-economic levels (American Psychological Association).

3. Clinical Psychologists are involved in assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, teaching, clinical supervision, consultation, research and administration. Based on specified scope of work, Clinical Psychologists are involved in clinical practice in various settings.

4. Forensic Psychology Forensic psychology involves understanding fundamental legal principles, particularly with regard to expert witness testimony and the specific content area of concern, e.g., competence to stand trial, child custody and visitation, or workplace discrimination, as well as relevant jurisdictional considerations etc.

5. An important aspect of forensic psychology is the ability to testify in court as an expert witness, reformulating psychological findings into the legal language of the courtroom, providing information to legal personnel in a way that can be understood. 

6. A forensic psychologist is frequently appointed by the court to assess a defendant's competence to stand trial. The court also frequently appoints a forensic psychologist to assess the state of mind of the defendant at the time of the offense, i.e., evaluation of the defendant's sanity or insanity which relates to criminal responsibility at the time of the offense.

7. Forensic psychologists may be called on to provide sentencing recommendations, treatment recommendations or any other information the judge requests, such as information regarding mitigating factors, assessment of future risk and evaluation of witness credibility. Forensic psychology also involves training and evaluating police or other law enforcement personnel, providing law enforcement with criminal profiles and in other ways working with police departments.

8. Thus, professional responsibilities include: Consultation to law enforcement including working with judicial system and counselling services through mediation centres etc. Expert witness Trial consultation Evaluation mainly focusing on malingering, competency evaluation, sanity evaluation etc. Psychotherapeutic management Consultation in correctional setting Academic and research activities

9. Practice of Forensic Psychology includes Legal Psychology and Criminal Psychology In India, services are provided through Forensic Sciences Laboratory (specialized centers and CBI Labs), mediation centers of Courts, certificates provided by various government organizations for legal purpose, mental health services to inmates of jail, probation homes, observation homes etc.

10. Community Psychology Community psychology grew out of the community mental health movement, but evolved dramatically as early practitioners incorporated their understandings of political structures and other community contexts into perspectives on client services. Community psychology emphasizes principles and strategies of preventing social, emotional and behavioral problems and wellness and health promotion at the individual and community levels.

11. Main focus is on: Prevention of mental health problems Promotion of mental health Collaboration and community strengths Psychological sense of community Public awareness about wellness Empowerment including enhancing quality of life Social justice Human environment interaction

12. Clinical Psychologists are involved in practice of community psychology through various community mental health programmes, e.g., National Mental Health Programmes, District Mental Health Programmes, Community outreach programmes etc. They are involved in community awareness programmes, preparing IEC materials, improving quality of life of individuals through promotion of mental health, etc. It includes components of Health Psychology, Positive Psychology etc.

13. Behavioral Medicine Behavioral medicine  is an interdisciplinary field  combining both medicine and psychology and is concerned with the integration of knowledge in the biological, behavioral, psychological, and social sciences relevant to health and illness. The practice of behavioral medicine encompasses health psychology, but also includes applied psychophysiological therapies such as biofeedback, hypnosis, and bio-behavioral therapy of physical disorders, aspects of occupational therapy, rehabilitation medicine, as well as preventive medicine.

14. It focuses on Formulation of problem on bio-psychosocial model Medical disease with behavioural component Treatment adherence and compliance Working on psychological factors associated with medical illness Doctor-patient relationship including family

15. The practice of behavioural medicine is being done in general hospital setting and also in private practice. Main departments are Medicine, Oncology, Cardiology, Pediatrics, Neurology/ Neurosciences etc.

16. Neuropsychology Neuropsychology  studies the structure and function of the brain as they relate to specific psychological processes and behaviours. In practice, neuropsychologists tend to work in research settings (universities, laboratories or research institutions), clinical settings (involved in assessing or treating patients with neuropsychological problems), forensic settings or industry (often as consultants where neuropsychological knowledge is applied to product design or in the management of pharmaceutical clinical-trials research for drugs that might have a potential impact on central nervous system functioning).

17. Various approaches are: Experimental neuropsychology : To uncover the relationship between the nervous system and cognitive function. Clinical neuropsychology : Application of neuropsychological knowledge to the neuropsychological assessment, management, and  rehabilitation  of persons having neurological, medical and psychiatric problems and head injury etc. Cognitive neuropsychology : Distillation of the complementary approaches of both experimental and clinical neuropsychology. Connectionism  is the use of  artificial neural networks Functional neuroimaging  

18. In India the field is growing is fast space. The practice of neuropsychology is mainly related to clinical neuropsychology focusing on neurological and psychiatric disorders. Clinical psychologists are delivering services in Cognitive Neurosciences Centres that is related to understanding neural mechanism of cognitive functions. Various centres actively involved in practice of neuropsychology (assessment and neuro/cognitive rehabilitation) are NIMHANS, Bangaluru, RINPAS, Ranchi, AIIMS, New Delhi etc.

19. School Psychology School Psychology  is concerned with the educational and psychological well-being of children and adolescents in academic setting. School Psychologists Association of Western Australia (2010) has highlighted following areas: Identifying and assessing mental health issues and providing follow up or referral to other mental health services Conducting assessment in learning, social, emotional and behavioural domains and communicating assessment results to key people, such as parents and teachers and relevant professionals

20. Providing expert advice and direct intervention in the management of critical incidents Assisting in the design and evaluation of effective prevention, intervention and support programs for individuals, groups and school populations Providing counselling and intervention for a range of issues affecting children and adolescents

21. Providing professional learning for staff on a range of topics, and conducting workshops for parents and small group interventions for students Consulting with parents, teachers, school administrators, external agencies and other members of the school community in regard to interventions, services and support for students Understanding and conducting research in areas relating to school psychology practice

22. Indian School Psychology Association (InSPA) has formulated a training module in 2011 which includes following modules: Module I: Theoretical framework of school psychology Module II: Role of school psychologists, overview of standards and code of conduct Module III: Understanding school setting in India: rules, acts, policies and educational contexts Module IV: Mental health of school children Module V: Yoga and meditation for school children

23. Various departments of Clinical Psychology are involved in different types of school mental health programmes. It includes components of Community Psychology, Positive Psychology, Health Psychology, Child Psychology etc.

24. Health Psychology Health Psychology  is the study of psychological and behavioral processes in health, illness, and healthcare. It focuses on understanding and working on psychological, behavioural and cultural factors related to health and illness. Health psychologists follow bio-psychosocial approach.

25. There are four divisions of health psychology Clinical health psychology Public Health Psychology Community health psychology Critical health psychology.

26. Main objectives of Health Psychology are: Understanding behavioural and contextual factors Prevention of illness Managing effect of illness Teaching and research Helping in making health policies Role of Health Psychologists

27. Health Psychology is being practiced in general hospital setting and community setting. Various departments of Psychology including University of Calcutta are involved in providing training. It includes components of Behavioural Medicine, Positive Psychology, Community Psychology etc.

28. Positive Psychology Positive psychology  mainly focuses on positive mental health, personal growth, and promotion of mental health and wellness. Positive psychology is concerned with three main issues: Positive emotions Positive individual traits Positive institutions (strength of community)

29. Its main focus is on Pleasant life (Life of enjoyment): Positive feeling and emotion including happiness, joy, excitement, satisfaction, pride etc. Good life (Life of engagement): Optimal engagement in primary activities including self-efficacy mindfulness etc. Meaningful life (Life of Affiliation): Positive sense of well-being, belonging, meaning, and purpose.

30. Positive Psychology is being practiced in one or other form by all organizations involved in promotion of mental health, e.g., NIMHANS, Bengaluru. I t is also being used in various organizations involved in aviation and space research.

31. Rehabilitation Psychology Rehabilitation psychology  focuses on people who have disabilities and/or health conditions, usually chronic. Clients may have a variety of physical, sensory, neurocognitive, behavioral, emotional, and/or developmental disabilities.

32. Main focus is on: Individual’s health and welfare Improving functional abilities Promoting independence and optimal functioning Ensuring social justice and empowerment

33. Work setting includes acute-care hospitals, organizations related to neurological rehabilitation, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, health clinics, etc. Rehabilitation Psychology is established in India as an independent branch of Psychology and training programmes are being conducted. RCI provides license for Rehabilitation Psychologists.

34. Conclusion The horizon of Clinical Psychology is expanding and it is our duty to ensure delivery of quality training, extending services to our clients and conducting evidence-based research.

35. Thank you