Syllabus Information

1. General information

The objective of this subject is to provide students with a deeper understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Students will know different syndromes related to neurodevelopment, identify vulnerability factors associated with their onset and/or maintenance, be able to implement a psychological and neuropsychological evaluation and intervention protocol, advise family members, and refer to specialized early care centres.

These approaches and objectives are aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), so that the acquisition of the learning results of the subject provides training and competence to contribute to some extent to their achievement. Goal 4: Quality education Goal 5: Gender equality.

The elective subject Neurodevelopmental Disorders has been included in the teaching program of the Master's Degree in General Health Psychology for all those psychologists who have a greater interest in child and adolescent intervention. 

There are no prerequisites for enrolment in this subject. 

2. Learning results

• The student will acquire, develop and put into practice a concept of integral health in accordance with the guidelines established by the WHO.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the psychological nature of human behaviour, as well as the social and biological factors that can affect it.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the psychological nature of human behavioural disorders.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the psychosocial factors associated with health problems and disease.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the biological and psychosocial factors associated with health problems and disease, especially those related to mental health.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the different models of evaluation and intervention in the field of General Health Psychology, as well as the techniques and procedures derived from them for the approach to behavioural disorders.
• The student will be able to design, develop and, if necessary, supervise and evaluate psychological intervention plans and programmes according to the psychological assessment and the individual and social variables involved in each case.
• The student will be able to carry out activities for the promotion of and education for individual and community psychological health.

3. Syllabus

Topic 1. Introduction to neurodevelopmental disorders and early brain damage

Topic 2. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Topic 3. Intellectual Disability (ID) 

Topic 4. Specific learning disorder

Topic 5. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Topic 6. Communication disorders 

Topic 7. Motor disorders

4. Academic activities

The subject includes 3 ECTS organized as follows:

- Lectures (1.4 ECTS): 14 hours

- Analysis of practical cases (1.2 ECTS): 12 hours

- Seminars/Workshops. Information search and cooperative work (0.4 ECTS): 4 hours

5. Assessment system

1. Written test (60% of the grade, minimum 5 out of 10) at the end of the term. The test may contain multiple choice questions, short questions and/or a clinical case to be solved (to be determined at the beginning of the term).
2. Continuous work (40% of the grade, minimum 5 out of 10). The resulting grades may be derived from practice reports and/or individual and/or group work. The following aspects will be assessed: 

• Ability to summarise and integrate.
• Appropriateness of the choice of diagnostic tests and interventions in the disorder.
• Adequacy of report writing to other professionals and/or family members.
• Diagnostic test correction ability.
• Proper interpretation of symptoms and signs derived from the case.

Students will be able to carry out the continuous assessment activities as long as class attendance is not below 80% of the teaching hours of the subject.

In any case, the student is entitled to a global assessment of the subject in which they may opt for the maximum grade (up to 10 points).