PSYC 2250 Syllabus

Subject Code

PSYC

Course Number

2250

Course Title

Abnormal Psychology

Prerequisites

PSYC 1101 with a grade of C or higher

Corequisites

Terms Offered

Offered as needed

Credit Hours

(3-0-3)

Course Description

This course emphasizes the etiology and treatments consideration of various forms of abnormal behavior. Topics include historical and contemporary approaches to psychopathology, approaches to clinical assessment and diagnosis, and understanding and defining classifications of psychological disorders.

Course Outcomes

Describe Historical Concepts of Abnormal Behavior

  • Describe historical understanding of psychopathology, including: the supernatural, biological, psychological, and present conceptions and treatments.

Understand the Current, Integrative Approach to Psychopathology

  • Differentiate and understand the following contributions to psychopathology: genetic, neurological, behavioral, cognitive, affective, interpersonal, social/cultural, and life-span.

Understand Approaches to Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders

  • Describe key concepts im assessment and diagnosis of psychopathology.
  • Distinguish the basic components of research methods for understanding abnormal behavior.
  • Describe the role of genetics and culture in understanding abnormal behavior.
  • Understand approaches to clinical assessment and diagnosis of psychological disorders usimg the current version of the diagnostic and statistical manual on mental disorders.

Understand the Complexity of Anxiety Disorders

  • Intergrade the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the anxiety disorders.

Understand the Complexity of Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the somatoform disorders.
  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the dissociative disorder.

Understand the Complexity of Mood Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to he mood disorders.
  • Examine the relationship of mood disorders to suicidal behavior and discuss approaches to prevention.

Understand Psychological and Social Factors that Influence Health

  • Examine the contributions of stress and health-related behavior to the development and treatment of physical disorders.

Understand the Complexity of Eating Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the eating disorders.

Understand the Complexity of Sexual and Gender Identify Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the sexual disorders.
  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the gender disorders

Understand the Complexity of Substance-Related and Impulse-Control Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the substance-related disorders.
  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the impulse-control disorders.

Understand the Complexity of Personality Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the personality disorders.

Understand the Complexity of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Understand the Complexity of Developmental and Cognitive Disorders

  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the developmental disorders.
  • Integrate the clinical descriptions, etiology, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment specific to the cognitive disorders.

Demonstrate Knowledge of Legal and Ethical Issues in Mental Health Services

  • Describe criteria for civil commitment and criminal commitment.
  • Describe patients' rights and clinical practice guidelines.