Psychopathology
Psychopathology
Dr Lisa Law
The course aims to give an in-depth understanding of the foundations of contemporary ‘abnormal’ psychology. Students will gain familiarity with the various traditional theories, as well as their contemporary critique and current treatment methods. The course will present traditional clinical diagnoses, as well as alternative understandings of mental health problems. Biological, psychological, and cultural perspectives will be taken into account. Class discussion, including critical and philosophical debate is encouraged. For example, questions such as: ‘What is normal?’ ‘Can human emotions be measured?’ and ‘How do we know if diagnoses are valid?’ will be considered during the course.
Course Outline:
|
Reading |
Subject |
Lecture |
|
Carson et al Chapter1,2; Raply et al Chapter1,2,3,4; Kutchins and Kirk; Burr Chapter1 |
What is ‘psychopathology’? Traditional and Contemporary understandings of distress |
1,2 |
|
Carson et al Chapter3 |
Traditional biomedical explanations of distress |
3 |
|
Carson et al Chapter 3
|
Traditional psychological explanations of distress: psychodynamic, learning, cognitive |
4 |
|
Carson et al Chapter4; Raply et al Chapter1,3; Kutchins and Kirk |
Diagnosis and the DSM – reliability and validity, critiques and alternatives |
5,6 |
|
Carson et al Chapter 5; Raply et al Chapter8 |
Understanding post-traumatic stress |
7 |
|
Carson et al Chapter6 |
Understanding anxiety, panic and phobias |
8 |
|
Carson et al Chapter6 |
Understanding obsessive compulsions |
9 |
|
Carson et al Chapter7; Raply et al Chapter13,14,15 |
Understanding depression and suicide |
10,11 |
|
Carson et al Chapter 7 |
Understanding bipolar depression |
12 |
|
Carson et al Chapter13; Raply et al Chapter5,8,11,12 |
Understanding psychosis, ‘madness’ and complex mental health needs |
13,14 |
|
Carson et al Chapter10; Raply et al Chapter6 |
Understanding long-standing interpersonal and behavioural difficulties |
15 |
|
Carson et al Chapter11 |
Understanding drug and alcohol misuse |
16 |
|
Carson et al Chapter 9 |
Understanding anorexic, bulimic and binge eating |
17 |
|
Carson et al Chapter15; Raply et al Chapter7,9 |
Understanding difficulties in childhood and adolescence (ADHD, Autism, ‘ODD’, violence in the home) |
18 |
|
Carson et al Chapter 14 |
Understanding difficulties in older adulthood (Dementia) |
19 |
|
|
Summary, conclusions, exam preparation |
20 |
Course Requirements:
Mid Term:
Paper - 50% (A critical psychological evaluation of a movie character)
Final requirement:
In-Class Exam – 50%. (An open-book exam. The student must answer 3 out of 5 questions)
Attendance and Participation:
Attendance to class is mandatory
Active participation is greatly encouraged
Bibliography:
- Carson, R., Boucher C, and Minka, S. (1998). Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life, Tenth Revision. Tel Aviv: The Open University.
- Rapley, M., Moncrieff, J., and Dillon, J. (2011) De-Medicalising Misery
- Kutchins, H. and Kirk, S. (2003) Making Us Crazy: DSM: The Psychiatric Bible and the Creation of Mental Disorders.
- American Psychiatric Association (2014). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-V. Washington D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
- Burr, V. (2003) Social Constructionism
