Standard

Posted: 05/09/07

PSY 201 - Abnormal Psychology

Course Description

Studies the nature and causes of various forms of behavior disorder.  Topics include:  types of abnormalities, psychopathology, assessment and classification of mental disorders, symptomatology of major mental disorders, and critical evaluation of current theories.

 

 

Competency Areas

Hours

 

Types of Abnormalities

Class

5

Psychopathology

D. Lab

0

Assessment and Classification of Mental Disorders

P. Lab/O.B.I.

0

Symptomatology of Major Mental Disorders

Credit

5

Critical Evaluation of Current Theories

 

 

 

Prerequisite:

OTA 102, PSY 191

Corequisite:

OTA 202

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will:

Hours

Class

D.Lab

P.Lab/

O.B.I.

TYPES OF ABNORMALITIES

12

0

0

Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence

Identify and describe as depicted by the current publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) or other publications approved by the instructor.

 

 

 

Mental disorders due to a general medical condition not elsewhere specified

 

 

 

 

Substance-related disorders

 

 

 

 

Schizo and other psychotic disorders

 

 

 

 

Mood disorders

 

 

 

 

Somatoform disorders

 

 

 

 

Factitious disorders

 

 

 

 

Dissociative disorders

 

 

 

 

Sexual disorders

 

 

 

 

Eating disorders

 

 

 

 

Sleep disorders

 

 

 

 

Impulse-control disorders

 

 

 

 

Adjustment disorders

 

 

 

 

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

7

0

0

 

Describe the components of the central nervous system (CNS).

 

 

 

 

Define autonomic nervous system (ANS), sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

 

 

 

 

Describe functions of each.

 

 

 

MENTAL DISORDERS

9

0

0

 

List and describe the sources of available treatment (e.g., group therapy, private counseling, group homes, hospitalization, and medication).

 

 

 

 

Describe the differences among clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric social workers.

 

 

 

SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF MAJOR  MENTAL DISORDERS

7

0

0

 

Describe the kinds of anxiety disorders that lead to emotional disorders.

 

 

 

 

Differentiate between fears and phobias.

 

 

 

 

Describe the role of emotions in psychopathology.

 

 

 

Mental retardation

 

 

 

 

 

Describe the levels of mental retardation.

 

 

 

 

List the causes of mental retardation

 

 

 

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF CURRENT THEORIES

 

 

 

 

Evaluate the current theories of abnormal psychology.

 

 

 

Psychodynamic

 

 

 

 

 

Describe psychoanalytic theory according to Freud, structural approach, developmental approach, anxiety, and defense mechanisms.

 

 

 

Behavioral perspective

 

 

 

 

 

Describe classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and vicarious conditioning.

 

 

 

Cognitive perspective

 

 

 

 

 

Describe the stages of memory.

 

 

 

 

Define sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

 

 

 

Biological perspective

 

 

 

 

 

Describe the brain structure and hormones (limbic system).

 

 

 

Humanistic self-actualization perspective

 

 

 

 

 

Differentiate between the humanistic position and the self-actualization position

 

 

 

Family systems approach

 

 

 

 

 

Describe communication patterns and relationship structures in family dynamics.

 

 

 

Integrative approach

 

 

 

 

 

Define technical eclecticism and theoretical integration.

 

 

 

 

Describe common factors of the integrative approach.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resources

 

Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M.  Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach.  NY: Brooks-Cole.

Bootzin, R. R., & Acocella, J. R.  Abnormal psychology - current perspectives.  NY: Random House.

Holmes, D. S Abnormal psychology.  New York: HarperCollins.

Nevid, J. S., et al.  Abnormal psychology in a changing world.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Sarason, I. G., & Sarason, B. R.  Abnormal psychology: The problem of maladaptive behaviorEnglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

 

All Suggested References are current edition.