Advanced Psychopathology

Psychology 547

Fall Semester 2012

Instructor:  Richard L. Ogle, Ph.D.

Class Time:  W (2:00-4:45)

Office Hours: T, TH 1:00-2:00 and by appointment

Office: TL 2004D

Phone: 910.962.7753

Email: ogler@uncw.edu

 

Texts

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders. Fourth Edition. Text Revision. APA: Washington, DC.

 

Maddux, J.E., & Winstead, B.A. (2012). Psychopathology: Foundations for a contemporary perspective. 3rd Edition. Manwah, NJ: Laurence Erlbaum.

 

Required readings to be arranged

 

Course Description

What is psychopathology? What is a diagnosis? Are they the same? The concepts of

psychopathology, mental illness and diagnosis are separate but related constructs. The

purpose of this course is to begin the process of you, the student, coming to an

understanding of these concepts at a professional level, and how these concepts relate to

the care of individuals. Understanding and mastery the current diagnostic nomenclature

and becoming comfortable with the process of diagnosis is the mechanism by which this

process begins.

 

Content will be presented through text reading, lecture, discussion and video.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you will

1.  have memorized the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for the adult and child diagnoses covered in class.

2.  understand and be able to articulate the process of differential diagnosis as it relates to psychopathology.

3.  be able to articulate the importance and limitations of diagnostic science as it relates to the experience of psychopathology and treatment of individuals.

4. articulate the major theoretical conceptualizations of a selected group of disorders.

 

Methods of Evaluation

1. Three exams – Exams are essay format that will assess your knowledge of the content covered as well as your ability to generate a diagnosis based on case vignettes.

 

2. Term Paper – The term paper is designed to assess your ability to understand and articulate the necessary facets of a psychologist’s understanding of a psychological disorder.

 

3. Class Participation – Class participation will assess your ability to speak in the language of differential diagnosis.

 

Exams

There are a total of three exams. Each exam will consist of essay, short answer

and diagnosis. Each exam is worth 100 points. Actual number of questions will vary.

 

Term Paper

You are required to write a term paper as part of this course. The paper is to focus on the

etiology, course, gender/diversity issues, and treatment approaches of a particular

psychiatric diagnosis. It must be written in APA format and be no less than 15 pages

long.

 

Readings

You are required to have read the DSM section corresponding to the particular class of

disorders that will be discussed by the first day of discussion of that disorder class.  In addition, please read the assigned chapter from the MW text.  Periodically, there will be assigned readings.

 

Grading

Grades will be assigned based on your performance on tests, presentation, and term

paper. Point totals are as follows:

1. Two exams(100 points each).…….....200 points

2. Final exam…………………………..100 points

3. Term Paper………………………….100 points

Total = 400

 

Your grade will be based on your final point total. The highest point total obtained in

the class will be the top of the scale. Grades will be scaled off this total using the

standard grade ranges. The grade ranges are as follows:

90% or greater = A range

80% - 89% = B range

70 – 79% = C range

69% and below = F range

 

Schedule

August

22     Class Introduction and Review of Syllabus

         What is psychopathology?

         Assessing Psychopathology (MW 1-4)

 

29     Diagnosis: The Purpose of the Label (MW 5)

         Mental Status Examination (MW 6 & Reading)

 

September

5       Mood Disorders – Unipolar Disorders (MW 9)

         Mood Disorders – Bipolar Disorders (Reading)

 

12     Mood Disorders – Bipolar Disorders, cont’d

         Anxiety Disorders – (MW 8)

        

19     Anxiety Disorders cont’d

 

26    EXAM 1

 

October

3      Substance Use Disorders (MW 14)

 

10     Psychotic Disorders – Schizophrenia (MW 10)

        

17     Somatoform Disorders – Somatozation, Conversion, Hypochondriasis (MW 13)

 

24     Dissociative Disorders (Reading)

 

31      Sexual Disorders & Eating Disorders (MW 12 & 20)

         Eating Disorders

 

November

7     Exam II

 

14   Personality Disorders – (MW 11)

 

21    Thanksgiving Break - No class

 

28    Delirium, Dementia Amnestic & Other Cognitive Disorders

 

December

5     Childhood Disorders –  (MW 16-18)

 

12    FINAL EXAM 3:00-6:00 – Papers Due at 5:00pm