Psychology

Psychological Trauma

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

 

Revised Jan 6, 2022

WESTERN UNIVERSITY

LONDON               CANADA

Department of Psychology

2021 - 2022

 

Psychology 3316G    Section 200

Psychological Trauma

 

 

  • CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

 

This course covers the psychobiological theories and research aimed at helping us understand the diversity of human responses to traumatic life experiences, including sexual assault, childhood maltreatment and war.

 

Antirequisite: Psychology 3390G if taken in 2012/13 or 2013/14.

 

Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. If you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.

 

Prerequisite: Psychology 2820E or both Psychology 2800E and Psychology 2810.

 

1 hour asynchronous lectures online weekly; 2 hours synchronous lab hours in class; Course Weight: 0.5

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

 

 

2.0  COURSE INFORMATION

 

Instructor: Paul Frewen, PhD, C.Psych

            Office and Phone Number: University Hospital B3-264

Office Hours: Thursday, 11:30-12:30 via zoom: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/93995097437             

            Email: pfrewen@uwo.ca                                   

 

            Teaching Assistant: Jason Chung

            Email: jchun264@uwo.ca

 

Time and Location of Classes: Thursday 9:30-11:30 in UCC-61 (Blended) or via zoom:           https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/93995097437

Delivery Method: Blended: Virtual Lectures and In-Person Labs

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

 

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca, or at 519-661-2147.

 


3.0  TEXTBOOK

 

Note: Online Library Resource, there is NO NEED to purchase individually:

 

Gold, S. N. (2017). APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1. Washington: American Psychological Association.

Gold, S. N. (2017). APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 2. Washington: American Psychological Association.

 

 

4.0  COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

Understand response to traumatic life events and recovery from maladaptive posttraumatic responses in terms of fundamental psychological principles (e.g., psychobiology, learning, memory, emotion, consciousness).

 

Learning Outcome

Learning Activity

Assessment

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.

  • Definitions of Traumatic vs. Non-Traumatic Stressors, Complex vs. “Simple” Trauma, different kinds of traumatic life events
  • Recognize transdiagnostic psychological outcomes of trauma
  • Recognize psychological mechanisms underlying peri- and post-traumatic response (i.e., psychobiological, learning and memory, emotional, self-related)

Lecture Viewing

Graded Exams, Ungraded Post-lecture Quizzes, Term Paper (Systematic Review)

Knowledge of Methodologies.

  • Understand the processes by which we accumulate and evaluate research knowledge in the context of trauma psychology 

Knowledge Translation, Experiential Learning

Article Summaries, Lab Participation

Clinical Applications.

  • Participate in and evaluate current trauma psychology research

Lab Observation and Participation

Lab Participation

 


5.0  EVALUATION

 

Article Summaries in PowerPoint

32% (2x16%)

Jan 27, Feb 17

Lab Participation

8% (8x1%)

Weekly (10)

Term Paper – Systematic Review

30%

Mar 17

Final Exam

30%

Scheduled by Registrar

 

 

5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK

 

Post-lecture quizzes are not graded. Article summaries (i.e., recorded PowerPoint presentations) are due on the date(s) assigned above and otherwise assessed a daily late penalty of 2% for the first 10 days, and a daily late penalty of 5% thereafter. Lab participation is attendance based; alternate assignments may be possible for missed appointments.

 

Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.

 

This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.

 

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:

 

70%      1000-level to 2099-level courses

72%      2100-2999-level courses

75%      3000-level courses

80%      4000-level courses

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf)

 

A+        90-100              One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level

A          80-89                Superior work that is clearly above average

B          70-79                Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory

C          60-69                Competent work, meeting requirements

D          50-59                Fair work, minimally acceptable

F          below 50           Fail

 

Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.

 

Policy on Grade Rounding: Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course.

 


6.0  ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE

 

       Date of the Final Exam will be scheduled by the registrar. In-class Lab Activities are scheduled in-class as per the class schedule below and graded based on attendance and participation. The other two major assignments are described below, although students are encouraged to review specific instructions on the course website.

 

Article Summaries in PowerPoint: As a knowledge translation activity, this assignment involves summarizing a research article published in the APA journal "Psychological Trauma" published within the year preceding the start of the course as a narrated powerpoint presentation of 5-6 minutes length. Following a template, presentations will describe the background literature to the published research, methods, results and discussion, strengths, limitations, and concluding take home message.

 

Term Paper – Systematic Review: This assignment supports all 3 learning outcomes: Depth and Breadth of Knowledge, Knowledge of Methodologies, and Clinical Applications. We have conducted a PsychINFO search pairing the keywords "Trauma" and "PTSD" with various topics, limiting the search to research published within a specified date range within the year preceding the beginning of the course. Students are assigned the latter topics at random, and asked to systematically review the results of at least 10 of the identified articles, both individually in tabular form and thematically across studies in text, following a recommended template. Completing this learning activity not only informs students of the results of recent course-relevant research but also teaches the skill of conducting systematic reviews.

 

7.0  CLASS SCHEDULE

 

Week

DATE

TOPIC & Linked Lecture Videos

Recommended (but NOT Required) Readings

 In-class Lab  Activity (8/10 graded)

1

Jan 13

Introduction to Trauma Psychology

  • Vol1-Ch2 Defining Trauma
  • Vol1-Ch10 Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD
  • Review of Course Outline

2

Jan 20

Different Kinds of Traumatic Events

  • Vol1-Ch15-Complex Trauma and Complex PTSD
  • 1) Trauma- and Stressor History Screen (TSHS)

3

Jan 27

Trauma-related Emotion Dysregulation & Self

  • Chapter 6 of Frewen & Lanius (2015) Healing the Traumatized Self
  • 2) Introspective-Interoceptive Task (IIT)

4

Feb 3

Trauma Exposure as a Transdiagnostic Vulnerability Factor & PTSD Comorbidity

  • Vol1-Ch14 Other disorders associated with psychological trauma
  • Vol1-Ch11: Depression and complicated grief Vol1-Ch12: Substance use disorder and trauma
  • 3) Perceived Causal Relations (PCR)

5

Feb 10

Trauma memory focused therapies

  • Ch16-Trauma and memory
  • Vol2-Ch8 Exposure Therapy
  • Vol2-Ch9 EMDR
  • Vol2-Ch7 Cognitive Therapy
  • 4) Journaling and Script-driven Imagery

6

Feb 17

Non-trauma memory focused therapies

  • Vol2-Ch12 Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the Treatment of Trauma
  • Vol2-Ch11 Emotion Regulation and Skills-Based Interventions
  • 5) Meditation Breath Attention Scores (MBAS)

7

Feb 24

READING WEEK

---

---

8

Mar 3

HISTORY – General Approach to Complex PTSD Therapy

  • APA Professional Practice Guidelines for Complex PTSD
  • 6) Mindfulness- and Metta-based Trauma Therapy (MMTT)

9

Mar 10

Posttraumatic Dissociation

  • Vol1-Ch13 Dissociation as a Trauma-Related Phenomenon
  • 7) Trauma-related Altered States of Consciousness (TRASC)

10

Mar 17

Technological Innovations for Psychological Interventions (TIPI)

  • n/a
  • 8) Virtual Reality Integrative Therapies (VRIT)

11

Mar 24

Psychobiological Interventions

  • Vol1-Ch23 Genetic and Biological Underpinnings and Consequences of Trauma
  • 9) Neurofeedback (NFB) and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) Demos

12

Mar 31

Resiliency and Growth

  • Vol2-Ch5 Trauma Resiliency and Posttraumatic Growth
  • 10) Spiritual Struggles

13

Apr 7

Review

  • n/a
  • n/a – no attendance necessary

 

 

8.0  Land Acknowledgement

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.

 

With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.

 

 

9.0  STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

 

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

 

As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offences. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).

 

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

 

In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

 

10.0      POLICY ON THE USE OF EXAM PROCTORING SOFTWARE

 

When examinations and tests cannot be given in person (e.g., in courses coded as Distance Studies; in the event of a lockdown order), they may be conducted using either a monitoring platform such as Zoom or a remote proctoring service, such as Proctorio. If Zoom is used for exam invigilation, you will be required to keep your camera on for the entire session, hold up your student card for identification purposes, and share your screen with the invigilator if asked to do so at any time during the exam. The exam session using Zoom will not be recorded.*

If a remote proctoring service is used, the service will require you to provide personal information (including some biometric data). The session will be recorded. The instructor will alert you to the use of this software as close as possible to the start of the term, however, in the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly canceled, you may only be given notice of the use of a proctoring service a short time in advance. More information about remote proctoring is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines. Please ensure you are familiar with any proctoring service’s technical requirements before the exam. Additional guidance is available at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf

 

* Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination. See this link for technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us  

 

11.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES

 

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12

 

The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf

 

If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:

  1. Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
  2. For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
  • For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.

 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order to be valid. It may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html

 

Students seeking academic consideration:

  • are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;  
  • are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
  • must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence

 

Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.

 

12.0 Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown: IN-Person & Blended classes

 

In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online, as determined by the course instructor.

 

13.0      STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE

 

In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:

  • please “arrive” to class on time
  • please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
  • please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
  • to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
  • In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
  • In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
  • Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting

 

The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:

  • If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
  • Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
  • Self-identify when speaking.
  • Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).

 

General considerations of “netiquette”:

  • Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
  • Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
  • Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
  • Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.

 

Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.

 

14.0 OTHER INFORMATION

 

Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca 

 

Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca

 

Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:

http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html

 

- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct

- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations

- Policy on Attendance

- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines

- Policy for Assignments

- Short Absences

- Extended Absences

- Documentation

- Academic Concerns

- 2021-2022 Calendar References

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf

Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.

 

Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.