PY243A - ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY – 3 credits
Iowa Lakes Community College

PREREQUISITES: None

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will look at the history of psychopathology, the major psychiatric syndromes, the differing theoretical perspectives, and approaches to treatment and therapy.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successfully completing this course the student will be able to:

1) describe the concept of abnormal behavior.
2) describe and differentiate between the major diagnostic categories of the DSM-IV.
3) state the differences between the major theories commonly used to explain abnormal behavior.
4) explain the difficulty in performing and interpreting research in the area of abnormal behavior.
5) demonstrate a familiarity with the variety of approaches used to treat psychopathology.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Introduction
1 – Abnormal Psychology: Past and Present
2 – Models of Abnormality
3 – Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Problems of Emotion and Mood
4 – Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Phobias
5 – Panic, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Stress Disorders
6 – Mood Disorders
7 – Suicide
Problems of Mind and Body
8 – Psychological Factors and Physical Disorders
9 – Eating Disorders
10 – Substance-Related Disorders
11 – Sexual Disorders and Gender Identity Disorders
Problems of Integration
12 – Schizophrenia
13 – Disorders of Memory and Other Cognitive Functions
Life-Span Problems
14 – Personality Disorders
15 – Disorders of Childhood and Old Age
Conclusion
16 – Law, Society, and the Mental Health Profession