Year 3 Module Outline (PDF 325KB) - University of Birmingham

03 22367 L3: PAIN
Module Leader: Dr Stuart Derbyshire
Teaching Staff: Dr Stuart Derbyshire
LEVEL: SEMESTER: CREDIT VALUE: CONTACT HRS:
3 1 20 38
RESTRICTION ON ENROLMENT: 50
STATUS:
Optional
CONTACT HOURS:
10 × 2 hour lecture and discussion
6 × 2 hour practical and discussion
3 × 2 hour tutorial discussion
MODULE DESCRIPTION/CONTENT:
This course covers a lot of ground and steps beyond the iteration of psychology as a consequence of neural process. How
can we define pain without descending into a tautological understanding of pain as the response to something painful And
how can we understand first-person cognition or subjectivity Although some chronic pain disorders are the consequence
of injury or disease, many others can be viewed as a manifestation of life in the 21 st century being ‘painful’. The primary
goal of this course is to help you gain an advanced understanding of philosophy, psychology and neurology as they apply to
pain. You will cover the following:
Cogito and the definition of pain
The nature of knowledge and the knowledge of nature
Manipulation of pain subjectivity: Hypnosis and Placebo
The possible causes of functional pains such as fibromyalgia
How did we end up with health as an identity
The spinal cord and the brain in pain
The fetal pain controversy
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On completion of this module the student will be able to:
1. Understand the strengths and limitations of specificity theory.
2. Articulate the brilliance and limitations of Cogito.
3. Understand the state/non-state argument in hypnosis research.
4. Recognise the ways in which pain experience can change despite similar injury.
5. Describe the key brain regions involved in pain.
6. Critically assess application of the official pain definition.
7. Coherently discuss and describe the problem of malingering.
8. Understand the treatment options for chronic pain.
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT:
Essay (50%), Summer Exam (50%)
KEY TEXTS:
MelZack R, Wall PD. (1988) The ChaIlenge of Pain. Penguin.
Grahek N. (2007) Feeling Pain and Being in Pain. Bradford Books.
Furedi F. (2002) Therapy Culture. Routledge.
Other readings will be provided.
ANY OTHER INFORMATION:
Feedback
Oral and written feedback will be provided on work submitted for tutorials (which will support the essay coursework).
Skills
Critical thinking, organisation and planning, gathering information, using initiative, written communication.
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