Behavioral and Mental Disorders

This course covers the classification, diagnosis, etiological theories, and treatments of the major mental and emotional disorders.

Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SCHC 130.FS

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand, compose, and deduce the basic concepts, methods, and theories relating to disordered psychology through course room dialogue, content writing assignments, naturalistic observations, and multiple-choice examinations
• Define and debate the key theories and principles relevant to disordered psychology from a wide variety of perspectives
• Recognize the difficulties of defining disordered behavior as it overlaps with “normal” behavior
• Define disordered behavior as a concept that incorporates biological, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives
• Describe the essential elements of the scientific research methods in abnormal psychology
• Outline the history of the development of DSM and the assumptions underlying the DSM-IV-TR, including the medical model, a theoretical orientation, categorical approach, and multi-axial system, to the current dimensional approach of the DSM-5
• Describe and analyze the goals and basic types of assessment procedures via multiple dimensions
• Describe and justify the purpose of theories as the basis for understanding and treating abnormal behavior
• Describe, conclude, analyze, and compose a framework for case analysis using the general features and criteria of a disorder as outlined in DSM-5, understanding the diversity behind and impacting all diagnosis
• Utilize APA format and empirical research to explore disordered psychology