Psychcast

models of behaviour change with reference to the transtheoretical model including the stages of pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance/relapse.

resilience as a positive adaption to adversity including the relative influence of protective factors with reference to: adequate diet and sleep (biological); cognitive behavioural strategies (psychological); support from family,friends and community (social)

evidence-based interventions and their use for specific phobia with reference to: the use of short-acting anti-anxiety benzodiazepine agents (gamma-amino butyric acid [GABA] agonists) in the management of phobic anxiety and relaxation techniques including breathing retraining and exercise (biological); the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and systematic desensitisation as psychotherapeutic treatments of phobia (psychological); psychoeducation for families/supporters with reference to challenging unrealistic or anxious thoughts and not encouraging avoidance behaviours (social).

the relative influences of contributing factors to the development of specific phobia with reference to: gamma- amino butyric acid (GABA) dysfunction, the role of stress response and long-term potentiation (biological); behavioural models involving precipitation by classical conditioning and perpetuation by operant conditioning, cognitive bias including memory bias and catastrophic thinking (psychological); specific environmental triggers and stigma around seeking treatment (social)

the distinctions between stress, phobia and anxiety; variation for individuals with stress, phobia and anxiety on a mental health continuum

the concept of cumulative risk.

the influence of social risk factors including disorganised attachment, loss of a significant relationship and the role of stigma as a barrier to accessing treatment

the influence of psychological risk factors including rumination, impaired reasoning and memory, stress and poor self-efficacy

the influence of biological risk factors including genetic vulnerability to specific disorders, poor response to medication due to genetic factors, poor sleep and substance use

the distinction between predisposing risk factors (increase susceptibility), precipitating risk factors (increase susceptibility and contribute to occurrence), perpetuating risk factors (inhibit recovery) and protective factors (prevent occurrence or re-occurrence)

ethical implications in the study of, and research into, mental health, including informed consent and use of placebo treatments.

the typical characteristics of a mentally healthy person, including high levels of functioning, social and emotional well-being and resilience to life stressors

mental health as a continuum (mentally healthy, mental health problems, mental disorders) influenced by internal and external factors that can fluctuate over time

the interventions to treat sleep disorders including cognitive behavioural therapy (with reference to insomnia)and bright light therapy (with reference to circadian phase disorders).

the distinction between dyssomnias (including sleep-onset insomnia) and parasomnias (including sleep walking) with reference to the effects on a person’s sleep-wake cycle

the effects of partial sleep deprivation (inadequate sleep either in quantity or quality) on a person’s affective (amplified emotional responses), behavioural and cognitive functioning

changes to a person’s sleep-wake cycle and susceptibility to experiencing a circadian phase disorder, including sleep-wake shifts in adolescence, shift work and jet lag

the differences in sleep across the lifespan and how these can be explained with reference to the total amount of sleep and changes in a typical pattern of sleep (proportion of REM and NREM).

theories of the purpose and function of sleep (REM and NREM) including restoration theory and evolutionary (circadian) theory

sleep as a regular and naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that follows a circadian rhythm and involves the ultradian rhythms of REM and NREM Stages 1–4 sleep excluding corresponding brain wave patterns and physiological responses for each stage