Psychology 347 - Study Guide

Fall Semester 2003

Final Examination

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

At this point in your studying, you are probably aware that we have covered a great deal of material since the midterm. Though you may be feeling a little overwhelmed, you should do well if you have kept up with the readings and have attended class on a regular basis. 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 the study guide.

As you also know by now, I not only want you to do well but I expect you to do well. If you throughly review the required readings and your class notes, you should have little difficulty with the exam.

I wish you good luck.

Sexual Dysfunction and Gender Identity Disorders

You should also be conversant with the various forms of paraphilias and the features associated with each. You should know, for example, that fetishism has to do with obtaining sexual gratification from an inanimate object or body part and that voyeurism is defined as sexual gratification obtained from catching other people in a state of undress or a sexual act. I expect you to understand the difference between Gender Identity Disorder and homosexuality. You should also be familiar with the major research findings concerning the diagnosis and treatment of paraphilias.

Eating Disorders

In this class we reviewed the major signs and symptoms of eating diisorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. You should be familiar with symptoms associated with each of these disorders and with their subtypes. You should know, for example, that bulimia can be manifested in vomiting as well as in excessive exercise. You should be aware of prevalence rates concerning eating disorders and gender differences in these prevalence rates. You should be conversant with etiological theories regarding eating disorders. This would include knowledge of ethnic differences in the likelihood of eating disorders as well as the possible influence of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. You should be aware of what Axis 1 and 11 conditions tend to co-occur with eating disorders. You should also be familiar with physical complications associated with having an eating disorder. These would include cardiac abnormalities and electrolyte imbalances.

The Psychoses

During these classes, we focused on schizophrenia and, for that reason, the various forms of schizophrenia will be emphasized on the exam. You should be familiar with each of the DSM-IV categories of schizophrenia and the essential features of each category. I would expect you to know, for example, that psychomotor disturbances such as waxy flexibility are associated with catatonic schizophrenia while silly, inappropriate affect is associated with disorganized schizophrenia. You should be conversant with both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, including Andreasen's 4 A's and Schneiderian First Rank symptoms. You should also be familiar with the various forms that disturbances in schizophrenic thought and language can take. This would include, for example, an understanding of such terms as circumstantiality, clang associations and neologism.

I expect you to be conversant with major etiological theories associated with schizophrenia. These would include the dopamine hypothesis, disturbances in expressed emotion, double bind communication, and the results of twin studies showing the contributions of genetics to the development of this disorder. You should know what drug treatments are available for schizophrenia and the potential side effects associated with each treatment.

You should be acquainted with other psychotic disorders (not just schizophrenia) and the essential features associated with each of these disorders. This would include the fact that delusional disorder, for example, is characterized by the presence of at least one nonbizarre delusion and that both schizophreniform and brief psychotic disorder are different from schizophrenia in total duration of symptoms.

Developmental Disorders

In these classes we reviewed some of the difficulties associated with psychiatric diagnosis with children. You should be conversant with problems such as language and cognitive limitations. How do clinicians distinguish between age appropriate behavior and psychiatric symptoms?

We covered disorders that are most commonly diagnosed in childhood. These include Attention Deficit Disorder, Enuresis and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. You should be familiar with the essential features of each of these disorders and others discussed in class and in the text. What are some diagnoses that can ONLY be made before the age of eighteen? What about diagnoses that can only be made after the age of eighteen?

What are some of the special concerns that clinicians have when diagnosing a child? You should be familiar with the consequences associated with diagnosing a child. These include the possibility of stigma and of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. What are some special considerations that psychologists must take when treating children? You should be familiar with the role of the family in the treatment of a child and of the side effects various treatments have.

Psychotherapy and Legal Issues

You should be familiar with the assumptions underlying each of the major schools of thought in psychotherapy. This would include, for example, understanding that psychodynamic approaches to mental illness are based on the assumption that unconscious conflicts are responsible for neurotic behavior and that behavior therapists assume that maladaptive behavior is learned.

You should also be conversant with psychotherapeutic techniques associated with each major school of psychotherapy. This would include, for example, familiarity with such terms as free association and transference as they relate to psychodynamic approaches, unconditional positive regard as it relates to humanist-existential approaches, and systematic desensitization and covert sensitization as they relate to behavioral approaches.

As for legal and ethical issues, you should be aware of current law regarding the insanity defense and its' use. This would include, for example, familiarity with such terms as the ALI rule and the Durham rule. You should know approximately how often the insanity defense is used and in what percentage of cases it is used successfully.