Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with basics of

psychopathology. In addition to an overview of the major categories of

mental disorders, the course will review the basic concepts and

definitions in psychopathology as well as the topics related to the

assessment, diagnosis, classification, epidemiology, etiology and

treatment of mental disorders.

One in four people in the world will suffer from at least one mental

disorder at some point during their lifetime. Mental illness can strike

anyone, including children and adults, men and women, wealthy and

poor, and people from all cultures. Mental illness is the most common

cause of non-fatal illness and one of the most common causes of chronic

disability.

This course is designed to give students an introduction to the field of

psychopathology. The course will use the recently updated DSM-5 as

the primary guideline for diagnosis and classification of mental disorders.

Emphasis will be placed on the description of clinical symptoms and

syndromes as they present in various mental disorders. Each class of

disorders will be discussed in terms of its clinical presentation, etiology,

prevalence, treatment and prognosis. Case studies from literature and

own clinical practice will be used to illustrate main features of each

disorder. This course aims to be theoretically neutral and therefore

presents psychopathology from the point of view of all major theoretical

perspectives, including psychological, neurobiological and sociocultural

models.

Reading Materials :

Required textbook :

Comer, R.J. (2015). Abnormal Psychology (9th edition). Worth Publishers:

New York, NY.

Supplementary reading materials:

Kilgus, M.D., Maxmen, J.S., Ward, N.G. (2016). Essential Psychopathology

and Its Treatment (4thedition). WW Norton & Co: New York, NY.

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

of Mental Disorders (5th edition). Arlington, VA

Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to: define the

concept of a mental disorder, recognize and describe symptoms of major

mental disorders, identify the major etiological and treatment paradigms

in psychopathology, understand the role of biological, psychological, and

cultural factors in shaping normal and abnormal behavior, understand the

importance of scientific and clinical research in advancement of

knowledge of psychopathology and its treatment.

Assessment methods and criteria

Will be updated still

Student grades will be determined based on performance on Midterm

test (worth 35% of the final grade) and Final exam (worth 65% of the

final grade). Both tests will consist of both multiple choice and openended

questions. The final exam will be cumulative.

Attendance rules

Will be updated still

Attendance is mandatory. Students will be allowed a maximum of two

unexcused absences for the class.