PSY 239 Abnormal Psychology

Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Provides a broad overview of abnormal psychology. Includes assessment and classification of psychological disorders, and biological and environmental factors associated with psychopathology, treatment, and ethical legal issues.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher); and completion of PSY 201Z; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:

Describe the basic structure and use of the DSM-V classification system.
Apply knowledge of diagnostic criteria to cases to select possible diagnoses, identify contributing factors, and determine the range of appropriate treatment options.
Differentiate among the various theoretical perspectives in the field of abnormal psychology.
Identify the impact of demographic, social, and cultural factors in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
Explain the influence of age, gender, and culture on the expression of psychological distress.
Relate the impact of substance abuse on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
Discuss ethical and legal issues surrounding clinical diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
Examine how scientific methods are applied in the field of abnormal psychology and relate why scientific methods are required for the evaluation of psychological interventions.

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

Apply analytical skills to social phenomena to understand human behavior.
Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.

Content Outline

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Hoarding disorder
- Trichotillomania
- Excoriation
- Theories and treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
- Acute stress disorder
- Reactive attachment disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Theories and treatments of trauma- and stressor-related disorders
Dissociative and Somatic Symptom Disorders
- Dissociative disorders
- Somatic symptom and related disorders
- Theories and treatment of dissociative and somatic symptom disorders
Sexual Dysfunctions and Gender Dysphoria
- Sexual dysfunctions
- Theories and treatment of sexual dysfunctions
- Gender dysphoria
Paraphilic Disorders
Mood Disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar and related disorders
- Theories and treatment of mood disorders
- Suicide
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
- Symptoms of psychotic disorders
- Delusional disorder
- Brief psychotic disorder
- Schizophreniform disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Theories and treatment of schizophrenia
Personality Disorders
- Cluster A personality disorders
- Cluster B personality disorders
- Cluster C personality disorders
- Alternate model for personality disorders
- Theories and treatment of personality disorders
Neurocognitive Disorders
- Delirium
- Neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease
- Theories and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
- Neurocognitive disorders due to neurological disorders other than Alzheimer’s
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Theories and treatments of substance use disorders
- Gambling disorder
Feeding and Eating Disorders
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Other eating disorders
- Theories and treatment of eating disorders
Elimination Disorders
Sleep-Wake Disorders
Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Intermittent explosive disorder
- Conduct disorder
- Pyromania
- Kleptomania
Ethical and Legal Issues
- Informed consent
- Competence
- Confidentiality
- Clinician-client relationships
- Right to treatment, refusal of treatment
- Insanity defense
- Forensic issues in psychological treatment