Midterm Examination II Fall Semester 2001

Study Guide- Psychopathology 347

When preparing a test, I always review the objectives outlined for you at the beginning of the course, the textbook material covered on the examination, and my class notes. I encourage you to do the same. The course objectives can be found on the first page of your syllabus. Help with the textbook materials and copies of my class notes can be found on my home page located at:

http://www.uncwil.edu/people/clementsc/Dr_Clements.htm This study guide is meant to help you in your efforts to review for the test. It is not meant to provide you with an exhaustive list of material that will be covered on the test. There will be material on the exam that is not included in this study guide.

You should know by now that I not only want the students in my classes to do well but I expect them to do well. If you study the material, you should have little difficulty with the test. On this study guide you will find questions you might ask yourself as you review the course materials. I hope they help you in your efforts at mastery of the class content. I wish you good luck.

Anxiety Disorders

You should be familiar with the essential symptoms of each of the major categories of anxiety disorders. This would include awareness of the fact that agoraphobia centers on fears related to the experience of a panic attack and that excessive fear and avoidance characterize phobias. I expect you to know basic psychiatric nomenclature such as the definition of the term "obsession" and the term "compulsion." You should be familiar with major etiological (causal) theories associated with each disorder. I expect you to know, for example, that psychodynamic theorists consider obsessive-compulsive disorder to be related to difficulties in the anal stage and that Mowrer's Two Factor model provides an explanation of the acquisition and maintenance of phobias. You should also be conversant with various treatment modalities for anxiety disorders such as relaxation training and systematic desensitization. You should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Mood Disorders

You should be familiar with the essential features of the mood disorders. This would include awareness of the differences between Bipolar I and Bipolar II Disorders as well as the duration criteria for dysthymia and cyclothymia. I expect you to know the cognitive, affective, motivational, and vegetative symptoms of each disorder.

You should be familiar with each of the major causal paradigms as they address mood disorders. I would expect you to know, for example, that psychodynamic theorists suggest that depression is associated with difficulties in the oral stage and that biological theorists focus on excess levels of norepinephrine as the cause of mania. You should be familiar with treatment terms such as tricyclic antidepressant and cognitive-behavior therapy as well as general medical conditions associated with mood disorders such as hypothyroidism.

Especially relevant to mood disorders is hopelessness and suicide. I expect you to be familiar with some of the myths associated with suicide (e.g. people who talk about suicide do not commit suicide). You should also know the characteristics associated with completed and attempted suicides.

Personality Disorders

You should be familiar the essential features of each of the personality disorders. This would include awareness of the differences between schizoid personality disorder and schizotypal personality disorder and the difference between the Cluster C disorders and anxiety disorders. You should know the three DSM-IV personality disorder clusters and the essential features of each cluster.

You should also be familiar with major causal models as they address the etiology of personality disorders. I would expect you to know that biological theorists suggest that schizotypal personality disorder is associated with the same genetic deficits as schizophrenia and that psychodynamic theorists emphasize deficient object relations as the cause of Cluster B disorders. You should be familiar with the difficulties involved in the treatment and diagnosis of people with personality disorders.

You should be conversant with both the long-term and short-term effects of alcohol use and with different treatment approaches covered in the text and in class. These would include familiarity with the research concerning the effectiveness of AA, for example, as well as motivational and learning approaches.

I also expect you to be familiar with the symptoms associated with intoxication, dependence and withdrawal from other substances. You should know, for example, that amphetamine intoxication can produce a syndrome resembling paranoid schizophrenia and that marijuana intoxication is associated both with lethargy and paranoia.

Substance Use Disorders

In these classes, we covered the basic terminology used in DSM-IV as it relates to substance abuse and the effects and consequences associated with abuse of different categories of substances. We specifically focused on difficulties associated with alcohol use and abuse. I expect you to know basic nomenclature as it applies to substance abuse. This would include familiarity with such terms as dependence, abuse, tolerance, and withdrawal as they are defined in DSM-IV. You do NOT have to know every feature listed in the DSM-IV under these terms. You WILL have to recognize features unique to each.