Download f. Research approaches in abnormal psychology

Chabot College
Fall 2010
Course Outline for Psychology 6
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Catalog Description:
6 — Abnormal Psychology
3 units
An overview of the field of abnormal psychology. Introduces students to the major classifications of
mental health disorders from the perspective of symptoms and behavior, causes, diagnosis and
treatment. Examines historical, socio-cultural and contemporary understanding of mental illness.
Includes disorders of mood, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, personality and other disorders in
adults and children.
Strongly recommended: Eligibility for English 1 A. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. identify the history of approaches to definitions, causes and treatments of human problems
currently labeled as "mental illness;"
2. demonstrate knowledge of past and present theories of mental illness;
3. demonstrate knowledge of various medical and psychosocial treatment models and research
designed to test the efficacy of these models;
4. summarize the most commonly used methods of assessment of abnormal behavior;
5. compare and contrast the major symptoms, diagnostic criteria, causes, and treatments of
different psychological disorders;
6. distinguish how the DSM-IV diagnostic system classifies psychological disorders and know
the difference between categorical and dimensional classification systems.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Historical and Contemporary Views of Abnormal Behavior:
a. Defining abnormality
b. Changing historical attitudes toward mental health
c. DSM-IV definition of mental disorder
d. Cultural sensitivity in abnormality
e. Epidemiology of mental illness
f. Research approaches in abnormal psychology
Causal Factors and Viewpoints:
a. Diathesis-stress model
b. Biological causal factors
c. Psychosocial perspectives
Clinical Assessment
a. Classification
b. Assessment interviews and tests
c. Mental health professionals
Stress and Adjustment Disorders
a. Stress coping responses
b. Biological effects of severe stress
c. Post-traumatic stress disorder
d. Prevention and treatment of stress disorders
Panic, Anxiety Disorders
a. Specific and Social Phobias
Chabot College
Course Outline for Psychology 6
Fall 2010
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
b. Panic disorder
c. Generalized Anxiety disorder
d. Obsessive-Compulsive disorder
e. Causal factors
f. Treatment
Mood Disorders and Suicide
a. Unipolar Mood disorders
b. Causal factors in mood disorder
c. Beck’s cognitive theory
d. Bipolar disorders
e. Biological and psychotherapy treatments
Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
a. Somatization disorder
b. Pain disorder
c. Body dysmorphic disorder
d. Dissociative disorders
e. Dissociative Identity disorder
Eating Disorders and Obesity
a. Anorexia Nervosa
b. Bulimia Nervosa
c. Risk and causal factors in eating disorders
d. Treating eating disorders
Personality Disorders
a. Categories of Personality disorders
b. Antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy
c. Treating personality disorders
Addiction Disorders
a. Prevalence, comorbidity and demographics of addiction disorders
b. Biological causal factors in alcohol dependence and other substances
c. Psychosocial causal factors in alcohol dependence and other substances
d. Treatment of alcohol and drug abuse disorder
Sexual Variants, Abuse, and Dysfunctions
a. Sexual and Gender variants
b. Gender Identity disorder
c. Sexual abuse
d. Sexual dysfunction
Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
a. Epidemiology of Schizophrenia
b. Clinical picture in Schizophrenia
c. Subtypes of Schizophrenia
d. Causes of Schizophrenia
e. Treatment and clinical outcomes
Cognitive Disorders
a. Brain damage and impairment
b. Alzheimer’s disease
c. Dementia from HIV-1 infection
d. Treatments and outcomes
Health Problems and Behavior
a. Psychological factors in health and disease
b. Life-style factors in health and illness
c. Personality characteristics
d. Treatments and outcomes
Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
a. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder
b. Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct disorder
c. Anxiety disorders of childhood and adolescence
d. Childhood depression
e. Autism and Learning disabilities
f. Causes, symptoms and treatments
Page 2
Chabot College
Course Outline for Psychology 6
Page 3
Fall 2010
16. Therapy
a. Pharmacological approach
b. Psychological approach
17. Contemporary and Legal Issues in Abnormal Psychology
a. Challenges for the future
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Lectures on major themes and concepts
Readings from texts, supplementary materials, primary source materials
Discussion and problem solving of significant or controversial issues
Written assignments
Utilization of video and/or CD-ROM excerpts
Student-led presentations
Demonstrations and simulations
Application of concepts to personal experiences
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Typical Assignments
a. Reading and Discussion:
1) Read Chapter 2, “Understanding the Causes of Abnormal Behavior,” Butcher, pp. 3660. Be prepared to identify, compare and contrast key causal factors and theoretical
perspectives, including Biological, Psychosocial and Sociocultural.
2) Read Chapter 1, "Research Approaches in Abnormal Psychology," Butcher, pp. 2229. Be prepared to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different
research designs in the study of behavior.
b. Writing:
1) Research and write a paper pertaining to one of the primary topic areas
discussed
in this course. Use the library resources to find supporting peer-reviewed research
articles. Cite references in APA format.
2) After viewing a selected video, such as Three Faces of Eve, be prepared to write a
short paper on the portrayal of an individual with dissociative identity disorder. In your
paper reference relevant facts about the disorder, including diagnostic criteria,
possible causes, treatment and outcome.
c. Collaborative Learning
1) Working as a small group, you will evaluate case studies presented at the beginning
of class. Evaluate the issues presented by the client and the approaches undertaken
by the therapist and propose alternative approaches that could have been taken in
assessment and treatment.
2) Class will be divided into groups, with each group representing one of the four major
perspectives, including psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and biological
perspective. You will diagnose and recommend treatments from your assigned
perspective, for a number of presented illnesses, such as fear of spiders, fear of
speaking in public, inability to stop washing one’s hands, and a constant state of
anxiety.
2.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
a. Participation in multiple class discussions or small group projects
b. Several essay or opinion papers
c. Chapter quizzes and/or midterm examinations
d. One final examination
e. Presentation or project
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Abnormal Psychology Core Concepts, Butcher, J.N., Mineka, S., and Hooley, J., Pearson, Allyn &
Bacon, New York, 2008,1st edition.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Psychology 6
Page 4
Fall 2010
Abnormal Psychology, Comer, Ronald J.Worth Publisher, New York, 2010, 7th edition.
Abnormal Psychology, Sarason, Irwin G., Sarason, Barbara R., Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey,
2008, 11th edition.
Special Student Materials:
Computer access
PSY 6, revised 9/09: cs