PSYC20046 - Physiology and Psychology of Stress and Trauma

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit considers the physiological and psychological consequences that underpin and change due to chronic stress, traumatic stress exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder. You will learn how to recognise the signs and symptoms associated with chronic stress, traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. The impact of trauma on emergency and service personnel, and on psychosocial helpers is covered. The unit focuses on the disorders often associated with trauma such as anxiety, panic, depression and other associated features e.g. guilt and shame. The important issues of referral, supervision and further training are also considered.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 9
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 4
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2020

Term 1 - 2020 Profile
Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Case Study 0%
2. Presentation 0%

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

No previous feedback available

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Identify the physiological consequences of stress and trauma
  2. Identify the psychological consequences of stress and trauma
  3. Evaluate the differences in physical, physiological and psycho-social symptoms that accompany different types of stress and trauma
  4. Articulate the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
  5. Analyse and evaluate different mechanisms which effectively treat different types of stress and trauma.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Case Study • •
2 - Presentation • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Knowledge • • • • •
2 - Communication • • •
4 - Research • • • • •
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8
1 - Case Study • • • •
2 - Presentation • • • • •