PSYCH/650 - Psychopathology

Course Description

This course will introduce students to the major categories of psychopathology as presented in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Mental disorders and their etiologies will be conceptualized from different perspectives, including cultural, biological, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, existential and systemic. Ethical issues related to research and practice in the field will be addressed. Students will be challenged to consider various definitions of normality/abnormality, the process of rendering a diagnosis, and the symptoms, causes and interventions for commonly occurring mental disorders.

This graduate course is 6 weeks.

This course provides a foundation of knowledge in the field of psychology. This course does not prepare students for any type of professional certification or licensure.

This course has a prerequisite. Please see details in the Prerequisite section below.

PLEASE NOTE:
Attendance and participation are mandatory in all university courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

Course Objectives

History and Diagnosis of Psychopathology

• Describe the influence of culture on the expression of psychopathology.
• Explain the basic structure of the DSM to describe psychopathology.
• Examine the leading models of psychopathology including the diathesis-stress model and the biopsychosocial model.
• Track the historical, social, and cultural influences on the perception and treatment of individuals with mental illness.
• Explain the need for an integrated viewpoint in psychopathology.
• Evaluate correlation and causality.
• Analyze research designs used in psychological studies.

Mood Disorders: Symptoms, Causes, and Research-Based Interventions and Assessment

• Evaluate the continuum of depression from what is considered normal depression to major depressive disorder.
• Differentiate between major depressive disorders, bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, dysthymic disorder, and cyclothymic disorder.
• Examine the relationship between mood disorders and suicide.
• Compare research associated with the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of the MMPI-2 or MMPI-2-RF as a tool for researching mood disorders.
• Describe the value of structured interviews for research and diagnosis.
• Evaluate assessment tools used in diagnosis of mood disorders.
• Implement the process of a formal diagnosis.

Anxiety Disorders, ADHD, Conduct Disorder, and Autism: Symptoms, Causes, and Research-Based Interventions

• Differentiate between panic, anxiety and additional chronic conditions.
• Analyze the relationship between stress, psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular disorders.
• Discuss the concept of stress as it relates to diathesis-stress, biopsychosocial, and mind-body interaction models.
• Identify variables used to predict the likelihood of developing a phobia.
• Differentiate between anxiety disorders in terms of severity and onset.
• Discuss childhood disorders and the features of the disorders that differentiate them from adult disorders.

Eating Disorders and Obesity, Sexual Variants and Abuse, and Neurocognitive Disorders: Symptoms, Causes, and Research-Based Interventions

• Examine the risk and causal factors of eating disorders.
• Identify the underlying causal factors of the Paraphilias.
• Discuss the clinical aspects of eating disorders and obesity.
• Analyze brain impairments in adults.

Personality Disorders and Substance-Related Disorders: Symptoms, Causes, and Research-Based Interventions

• Describe the challenges associated with Examine the antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder for commonalities and potential issues regarding violence.
• Describe the biopsychosocial as it relates to the development of substance abuse disorders.
• Describe the effectiveness of treatment in substance abuse as evidenced in research studies.
• Explain the reasons pathological gambling has been re-classified as an addictive behavior in the most current diagnostic manual.

Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders: Symptoms, Causes, and R

• Describe schizophrenia and dissociative disorders and their symptoms and subtypes, as applicable, as stated in the most current diagnostic manual.
• Evaluate the current research on schizophrenia with emphasis on the genetic, developmental, biological, and environmental variables that may contribute to the onset or course of the disorder.
• Examine the relationship between trauma and dissociation and how each relates to dissociative disorders.
• Differentiate dissociative identity disorder from schizophrenia.

Notes

A prerequisite is required for this course. The purpose of a prerequisite is to ensure students have the knowledge and/or skills needed to be successful in the course. Students are required to provide proof of prerequisite during the enrollment/registration process. To meet to a course prerequisite requirement, a student must have successfully completed the prerequisite course at University of Phoenix, provide proof via transcript of completing a comparable course (at least 75% match) or higher level course with at least a grade of C at another institution or have a University of Phoenix approved Student Appeal on file with the University.

During the checkout process you will be prompted to provide proof of the requirement(s). If you completed the prerequisite at another institution be prepared to upload an official/unofficial transcript. If you have questions about meeting the prerequisite requirements for this course please contact an enrollment representative.

This course requires the prerequisite below. Click on the prerequisite course to review the course topics and objectives.

Disclaimers

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While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.