The Programme develops advanced skills in psychiatric & psychological research methods. NHS volunteer programme is available for students interested in gaining clinical experience. Study on the Programme provides an ideal step towards a PhD or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
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KEY BENEFITS
- Provides an in-depth practical and theoretical knowledge base to guide the practice and interpretation of mental health research and an understanding of the context in which it takes place.
- Core module delivers advanced training in the ethical and scientific principles common to all mental research disciplines, together with skills in statistics, epidemiology and research methodology.
- Flexible, modular Programme, designed for you to develop specific areas of interest including Neuroimaging; Clinical Trials in Psychiatry; Brain Behaviour Interface; Psychiatric Genetics; Advanced Statistical Methods and Social Psychiatry.
KEY FACTS
Student destinations
Further research (PhD); enhanced careers in mental health and social care as clinicians and policy makers.
Programme leader/s
Dr Eugenia Kravariti
Awarding Institution
King's College London
Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent)
UK 180/ECTS 90
Duration
One year FT
Location
Denmark Hill Campus.
Year of entry 2013
Offered by
Institute of Psychiatry
Department of Psychosis Studies
Closing date
31 July 2013
Intake
20 FT expected.
Fees
FT Home: £7,900 (2013)
FT Overseas: £22,000 (2013)
CONTACTS
Contact information
Linda Daley (administrator): T: 020 7848 0497
Dr Katerina Koutsantoni (manager): E:
katerina.koutsantoni@kcl.ac.ukPURPOSE
The aim of the MSc in Psychiatric Research is to provide advanced training in the scientific and ethical principles common to all mental health research disciplines, together with skills in statistics, epidemiology methods and both biological and social methodology. The programme is aimed at psychiatrists, psychologists, other mental health practitioners (nurses and psychotherapists), and those students with no clinical background interested in a career that involves mental health research. The rigorous training in research methods will suit both UK and international students wishing to prepare for a career in research, or combine clinical activities with research, or pursue a PhD or training in clinical psychology or further professional development.
DESCRIPTION
The Programme gives equal priority to social, epidemiological and biological research methods, emphasising the interface between these approaches, but its modular structure allows you to focus on any of the areas. The Programme has a practical orientation, developing skills in critical appraisal of existing research, hypothesis formulation, study design, data gathering, research management, data analysis, writing research reports and scientific publications.
The Programme consists of a core study module covering Study Design, Basic Epidemiology and Statistics, and several optional modules, including Brain Behaviour Interface, Clinical Trials, Neuroimaging, Psychiatric Genetics and Translational Research. You will be learning from leading experts at the cutting edge of psychiatric research.
STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Core programme content
CORE MODULES:
- Research Methods, Ethics & Statistics in Mental Health
- Research Dissertation
Indicative non-core content
OPTIONAL MODULES
The following modules are offered by this Programme:
- Brain-Behaviour Interface
- Clinical Trials in Psychiatry
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatric Genetics
- Translational Research in Psychiatry
The following modules are shared with the MSc Mental Health Services & Population Research and are administered by that programme team:
- Measurement in Mental Health Services
- Mental Health Economic Evaluation
- Mental Health Services Research: Theory to Practice
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Statistical Methods in Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Systematic Reviews in Mental Health
- Social Psychiatry
FORMAT AND ASSESSMENT
- TERM 1 (September-December): Core Research Methods, Ethics and Statistics;
- TERM 2 (January-May): Choice of optional modules;
- TERM 3 (May-September): Dissertation preparation
ASSESSMENT:
- 2 X 3-hour written examination on TERM 1 teaching
- 1 X written essay and 1 X oral presentation at the end of each TERM 2 module
- 10,000 word research dissertation
MODULES
More information on typical programme modules.
NB it cannot be guaranteed that all modules are offered in any particular academic year.
Teaching staff: Dr James MacCabe
Module code: 7PAYJRME
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
written examination/s
The educational aims of this module, which takes place in the first semester, are to provide an advanced understanding of methods and ethics in mental health research, an in depth practical knowledge of their application and of univariate statistical procedures. In addition the student will be able to critically appraise, disseminate and apply research findings.
By the end of this module students will understand: concepts underlying research and its application in mental health; ethical principles to be considered in designing and conducting research; the theory and application in Psychiatry of the following research methods; cross-sectional surveys, Case control studies, Cohort studies, Ecological and time-series studies, Clinical trials; issues concerning sampling and measurement in mental health research and the logistics of carrying out a research study; the theoretical basis for statistical analysis and its application in research. Students will also be proficient in: univariate statistical analyses, and be able to interpret stratified analysis and linear regression; critical appraisal of research reports.
Assessment is by two three-hour unseen written examinations, which each account for 50% of the final grade for this module. There is also a written assessment and critical appraisal at the end of the first term, which is mandatory but does not contribute to the final mark.
Module code: 7PAYR105
Credit level: 7
The educational aims of this module are to equip the student with an in depth understanding of, and ability to perform, complex statistical techniques (such as multivariate analyses, linear and logistic regression, Cox regression) and to develop an appreciation of the appropriate circumstances under which to apply these techniques.
By the end of the module the student will understand: the conceptual basis for multivariate analysis in epidemiological research, in particular concepts relating to causal pathways, confounding, mediation and effect modification; and be able to apply the following procedures in the analysis of epidemiological date: linear regression, ANOVA and generalised linear modelling; logistic regression; Cox proportional hazards modelling; the uses and conceptual basis for multi-level modelling and the techniques and packages available.
Assessment is by a 2500-word essay, which accounts for 50% of the final grade for this module.
Teaching staff: Prof Carmine M. Pariante
Module code: 7PAGRBBI
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
Assessment is by a 2500-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Educational Aims
-E xplore, in detail the biological substrates underlying the interaction between 'brain' and 'behaviour'
- Offer models to understand the differences and the similarities in the definitions of 'mind' and 'brain'
- Evaluate and find explanations for the bio-psycho-social aetiology of psychopathological symptoms
- Suggest valid research methods to study the mechanisms of brain function and its relationship with behaviour.
By the end of the module the student will have an advanced understanding of the principles underlying research methods in the following biological domains in Psychiatry:
1. Cellular models
2. Animal models
3. Neuropathological research
4. Neuroendocrinology
5. Neuroimaging
6. Genetic Research
7. Pharmacogenetics, psychopharmacology and pharmacoeconomics
8. Somatic therapies in Psychiatry
Teaching staff: Drs Alice Egerton and Paul Morrison
Module code: 7PCSRCTP
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Assessment:
coursework; oral examination/s;
- 1 X 1,500 word essay
- 1 X 15-min oral presentation
This module will introduce the fundamental principles of clinical trials, using real-life examples from psychiatric research. The lectures will describe methodological approaches and challenges in the design and implementation of clinical trials within psychiatry, and the impact of these trials on improving mental health. Students will be encouraged to critically appraise published clinical trials, and training will be given in assessing bias and applying principles of good clinical practice. Specific topics include types of clinical trial, different methodological approaches, the placebo effect, ethics and consent, trial regulation, the experience of patients, carers and clinical teams, data management and statistical analysis. The module will describe the most influential clinical trials in psychiatry, together with the current challenges and future directions for this area. The lectures will be written and presented by expert scientists and clinicians from the Institute of Psychiatry, often using examples taken from their own experience.
Module code: 7PAGRMMH
Credit level: 7
The educational aims of this module are to provide the student with an in-depth understanding of the history, principles and practice of measurement methodology in mental health research.
By the end of the module the student will:
1. understand in detail the historical development and current status of the concept of a case in mental health research, and how it is operationalised through internationally standardised diagnostic criteria and structured clinical assessments.
2. have an advanced understanding of what is meant by validity and reliability, and be able to (a) assess the psychometric credentials of a measure for use in a particular context and (b) devise suitable methods for establishing validity and reliability of a measure
3. be able to independently devise the structure a simple questionnaire
4. develop a detailed understanding of classical and IRT scaling theory, and be familiar with the essentials of developing and validating a new scale.
Assessment is by a 2500-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Module code: 7PALMMEE
Credit level: 7
The educational aims of this module are to provide students with an introduction to health economics and in depth knowledge and the skills needed to critically appraise and design economic evaluations in the mental health field.
By the end of the module the student will be able to:
1. understand the theoretical underpinnings of economic evaluation
2. assess the relative strengths and limitations of the methods of economic evaluation
3. assess the appropriateness of alternative study designs and perspectives
4. understand the methods of identifying, measuring and valuing costs
5. understand the economic requirements for the measurement of outcomes
6. combine costs and outcomes so as to inform resource allocation decisions
7. understand the complexities of applying economic techniques to mental health care
8. critically appraise the strengths and weaknesses of published economic evaluations
9. design of economic evaluation for application in the mental health field
Assessment is by a 2500-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Module code: 7PALMHSR
Credit level: 7
The educational aims of this module are to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and extended skills in mental health services research interventions, using the Medical Research Council Framework for Complex Health Interventions.
By the end of the module the student will be able to:
1. Understand the theoretical framework for undertaking mental health services research
2. Formulate a research question
3. Use electronic databases to identify relevant evidence
4. Define a 'model'
5. Develop testable models of complex interventions
6. Identify methods of investigating health service interventions
7. Develop a protocol for an exploratory trial
8. Differentiate between an exploratory trial and a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT)
9. Develop a protocol for a definitive RCT
10. Describe the key components of an evidence-based approach to dissemination
11. Develop an evidence-based strategy for dissemination
Assessment is by a 2500-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Teaching staff: Dr Paul Allen
Module code: 7PAGRNEU
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
Assessment is by a 2500-word research proposal, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
The educational aims of this module are to provide students with a detailed understanding of the principles, practice and application of Neuroimaging techniques.
By the end of the module the student will:
1. Be able to understand the principles of physics and physiology underlying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), position emission tomography (PET), single photon emission tomography (SPET), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).
2. Be able to understand the components in the analysis of neuroimaging data.
3. Have learned how to design a neuroimaging study.
4. Have been introduced to the application of neuroimaging technigues to studying human behaviour, cognition and emotion in healthy and illness states.
5. Be able to understand some of the ethical implications of neuroimaging research
6. Have learned how to prepare a neuroimaging research proposal
Teaching staff: Dr Marta Di Forti
Module code: 7PAGRPSG
Credit level: 7
Assessment:
coursework
Assessment is by a 2500-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
The educational aims of this module are to equip the student with an advanced understanding of the principles, types and application of genetic research methods in psychiatry. Students will gain a detailed understanding of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors and their application in research.
By the end of the module the student will understand the principles and limitations of the major study designs in Behavioural Genetics: Family studies, Twin studies and Adoption studies.
Students will understand the application of these research designs in investigating: the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors; the interplay between genetic and environmental factors; the changing role of genetic factors in different stages of development from infancy to old age.
Students will understand the different outcome measures in behavioural genetics (diagnostic measures and personality dimensions). During practical sessions, students will have performed genetic model fitting analyses of both continuous and categorical traits (liability to threshold models). Students will understand the theory and application of molecular genetics in mental health research and its contribution to the field.
Module code: 7PALMQVA
Credit level: 7
The educational aims of this module are to provide students with an in depth understanding of qualitative research and skills needed to design, conduct and analyse qualitative research in the mental health field. The approach will be pragmatic, drawing on research studies conducted by the course tutors.
By the end of the module the student will be able to understand and apply:
1. the complementary roles of qualitative and quantitative methods of enquiry
2. the strengths of the qualitative approach to understanding beliefs and behaviours from the subjects' perspective
3. the main qualitative methods of data collection applicable to mental health services research
4. how to apply these methods to developing and evaluating mental health services
5. methods of qualitative data analysis, including practical use of computer software
6. dissemination of findings
7. critical appraisal of qualitative research
Assessment is by a 2500-word essay, which account for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Module code: 7PALMSYS
Credit level: 7
This module provides students with an advanced understanding and practical knowledge of systematic reviews, and the problems and limitations associated with this type of research method. The course will focus on systematic review procedures for intervention studies, particularly RCTs, although reviews of other types of study design will be discussed.
By the end of the module the student will be able to: understand the reasons for doing a systematic review; formulate questions appropriate for systematic reviews; develop a protocol for a systematic review; design and undertake comprehensive searches for relevant studies; critically appraise studies for inclusion in a systematic review; understand the potential impact of strengths and weaknesses of studies in a systematic review; understand how data can be used in meta-analyses; understand the role and work of the Cochrane Collaboration; produce a publication standard protocol for a systematic review; prepare a full systematic review.
Assessment is by a 2,500-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Teaching staff: Dr Sagnik Bhattacharyya
Module code: 7PCSRTRP
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Assessment:
coursework; oral examination/s;
- 1 X 1,500 word essay
- 1 X 15-min oral presentation
This module will focus on what is meant by translational research in the context of psychiatric illness. The lectures will cover the different steps in the process of translation of findings from basic or epidemiological research to treatments/ interventions available to the patient as well as the process of reverse translation. Students will also learn about the different stages of translational research and the potential blocks to effective translation as well as why translational research has become the buzzword in psychiatric research circles now more than ever before. Exemplars of ongoing translational work from different areas of psychiatric research will be presented by internationally acclaimed researchers to give an understanding of how translation of research onto practice happens in real life by giving a glimpse of research at various stages of the translation pathway as well as within different domains of psychiatric research. While the majority of the lectures will be from academicians, the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry will also be provided through guest speaker/s from the industry. Finally, an attempt will also be made to give an understanding of the funding landscape for translational research within the UK in particular and the critical importance of taking into account the perspective of service users and carers for truly effective translational research
ACADEMIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
General entry advice
A 2:1 degree or overseas equivalent in an appropriate subject (eg psychology, social science or health science); or a registrable qualification appropriate to the programme in medicine or overseas equivalent; or a professional mental health qualification.
APPLYING TO KING'S
To apply for graduate study at King's you will need to complete our graduate online application form. Applying online makes applying easier and quicker for you, and means we can receive your application faster and more securely.
King's does not normally accept paper copies of the graduate application form as applications must be made online. However, if you are unable to access the online graduate application form, please contact the relevant admissions/School Office at King's for advice.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Selection is made on the basis of application and references. Potential students are welcome to visit the department: please arrange a suitable time in advance.
PERSONAL STATEMENT & SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Please detail your reasons for applying for the programme and your future goals. Please also include a CV with details of your clinical experience.
FUNDING
Self-funded or funded by employer.
Student profiles
Psychiatric Research MScI studied this programme as part of my Wellcome Trust Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine. It was the perfect course to enhance my skills in psychiatric and mental health research. I had worked as a researcher in mental health prior to the course and this course gave me the chance to hone my skills and learn sound research and statistical methodology. I also had the chance to acquire knowledge on different fields of psychiatric research.
It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life as I had the chance to learn from global leaders in mental health. They were inspirational for me in many ways in developing my career as a researcher and an academic. I am currently conducting research among internally displaced people in Sri Lanka as part of my Wellcome Trust fellowship. The knowledge and skills I learnt from the MSc in Psychiatric Research are helping me immensely to conduct sound research. I had the honour of being selected as the first ever recipient of Professor Robin Murray Award for the best MSc dissertation in Psychiatric Research course, which was very rewarding and gratifying for me.
I strongly consider that graduating from this course was a life changing experience both academically and personally.
Psychiatric Research MScReturning to India after completing the MSc in Psychiatric Research, I had 18 months funding from the Wellcome Trust to follow-up those with dementia and cognitive impairment and I also surveyed mortality across the whole Chennai elderly cohort, using the WHO verbal autopsy interview.
I am currently writing papers on cause and cause-specific mortality. This MSc programme has enabled me to function as an independent researcher in India and I can now confidently design research projects, perform statistical analysis, and write research papers for scientific journals.
Psychiatric Research MSc
Studying for the MSc in Psychiatric Research at the Institute of Psychiatry was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The course gave me the skills and confidence to be able to conduct research in various fields of psychiatry. I feel I have become a better psychiatrist and a better researcher as a result.
Psychiatric Research MSc
The modules and lectures for this programme provided essential knowledge which contained diverse aspects of major research areas that I really needed. Academic opportunities such as various seminars and sessions that I could encounter at the Institute of Psychiatry were very helpful. It was also a pleasure to meet and work with wonderful people during the course. Overall, I feel that my master's course was a very successful experience for both my career and future life.
Staff profiles
Psychiatric Research MSc
Dr Kravariti is the Programme Director for the MSc in Psychiatric Research. In addition to leading and co-ordinating the programme, Dr Kravariti teaches on the course. She is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychosis Studies with primary research interests in the neuropsychology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and in e-health applications to psychosis.
Dr Kravariti is currently leading a twin study of psychological endophenotypes in bipolar disorder and a series of projects investigating SMS-based interventions in psychosis.
Psychiatric Research MSc
Dr Boydell is the programme chair for the MSc in Psychiatric Research. She is also an academic tutor and personal tutor for the course. Dr Boydell is a clinical lecturer in the Division of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist at the Bethlem Hospital. Her research interests include the investigation of social factors in the development of psychosis. Dr Boydell is currently the lead researcher on a project investigating the influence of social cohesion on the development of psychosis.