PY3EPM-Emerging Issues in Pain Management

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught:
Pre-requisites: PY2RM Research Methods and Data Analysis
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Katherine Finlay
Email: katherine.finlay@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module will develop students' critical understanding of the psychology of pain and the role of psychology in supporting in pain management. The module will provide students with comprehensive information about acute and chronic pain ranging from the reasons behind variation in pain sensation through to ways in which pain can be influenced by cognitive, affective and social methods of pain modulation. The module also aims to introduce students to the role of cognitive-behavioural and acceptance-based methods of pain management, potentially facilitating the ability of students to work effectively within pain management settings in the future. 

Aims:

This module aims to provide a comprehensive overview of why pain occurs, how it functions, and which psychological approaches are best suited to the management of chronic pain. The module aims to support students in developing a working knowledge of biological, psychological and therapeutic approaches to pain management, such that they would be able to consider future work in clinical and community-based contexts with people living with chronic pain.  

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, students will be able to:  

1. ?Critically evaluate non-pharmacological treatment options for the management of chronic pain involving cognitive-behavioural and acceptance-based methods as well as other methods of pain treatment (e.g., biofeedback, transcranial magnetic stimulation, attention-diversion strategies).  


2. Analyse the influence of individual differences in pain perception and chronic pain, p rincipally in terms of how individual differences may alter the experience and perception of chronic pain.   


3. Generate recommendations for psychological interventions appropriate for individual patients, presented through a formal case study. 

Additional outcomes:

This module will develop student skills in collaboration with others in formulating treatment plans and designing pain management interventions within this topic area; Analysis and synthesis of complex literature relating to pain biology and pain management; Ability to critically evaluate research and theory independently and as part of a small discussion group. 

Outline content:

The module consists of six two-hour seminars and one two-hour practical session. 

We will begin the module by considering core definitions and theories in pain management. We will then look at the biological processes active in the perception of pain and how these processes may be subjectively altered by biological factors (e.g. gender, genetic make-up) and psychological wellbeing (e.g. anxiety and depression). We will also consider core psychological variables essent ial to individuals’ responses to pain, including pain catastrophizing, fear of movement, pain acceptance and resilience. In critically evaluating research related to pain, we will cover how best to assess pain, focusing on self-report, experimental and laboratory-based methods, including neuroscientific approaches. In the later weeks of the module, we will focus on interventions for pain management including cognitive-behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, working towar ds developing intervention plans for patients with different presentations of chronic pain. We will also review NHS-delivered Pain Management Programmes, their utility and efficacy. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Seminars involve lectures, interactive discussions, practical activities and student presentations. Where possible, we will trial laboratory-based and clinically relevant methods of pain induction and pain management during a practical session.  

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Total hours by term
Total hours for module

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	25
Report	75

Summative assessment- Examinations:

This module is assed via 100% coursework. 

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Chronic Pain Case Study: 75%, 2000 words 

Experimental Pain Research Study Protocol: 25%, 1000 words. 

Formative assessment methods:

Students will be provided with feedback on their experimental study rationale and proposed methodology. Students will additionally receive peer feedback on intervention recommendations for chronic pain case studies which are comparable to that which will be used in the assignment.  

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Overall mark of 40%.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-assessment is by re-examination in August / September.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

N/A

Last updated: 8 April 2021