Course 1 of a million.....

Adult Psychopathology I

Course Description: This course concentrates on the description, etiology, assessment, and understanding of the mild to moderate range of symptomatology and behavior disorders. Developmental and dynamic elements are considered in the context of diagnostic and therapeutic concerns. A methodology for organizing clinical data is presented. Diagnostic systems, particularly the DSM-IV-TR, will be presented and examined.

Course Objectives:
1. To provide students with theoretical concepts for understanding and organizing clinical material that will facilitate the identification, understanding, and treatment of disturbed states and disturbed functioning; to be presented via lecture, discussion, video, and role-playing.

2. To provide students with a methodology that will assist them in organizing a case formulation and diagnosis from interview and case history material; to be presented via lecture, discussion, written case formulation assignments, and role-playing.

3. To increase students’ awareness of the various contexts (familial, cultural, gender, social, physical status, sexual orientation, racial, etc.) within which human behavior occurs and is assessed in order to promote clarity and reduce bias in the assessment and treatment of disturbed states and disturbed functioning; to be presented via lecture, discussion, video, written case formulation assignments, and role-playing

4. To familiarize students with a variety of psychological disorders in the mild to moderate range of psychopathology to assist in identification of and differentiation between patterns of disorder frequently seen in clinical practice; to be presented via lecture, discussion, video, and role-playing.

5. To introduce students to the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR); to be presented via lecture, discussion, video, written case formulation assignments, and role-playing

6. To sensitize students to the necessity for careful, repeated, and thoughtful review of clinical material, in order to appreciate the complexity of psychological processes and dysfunctional states; to be presented via lecture, discussion, written case formulation assignments, and role-playing.

7. To enhance student self-awareness and appreciation of course concepts as they might be applicable in one’s clinical work and personal life for the purpose of developing greater empathic capacities in the student; to be presented via lecture, discussion, video, written case formulation assignments, and role-playing.

8. To foster an empathic appreciation for the particular adaptation of any individual to his or her life circumstances; to be presented via lecture, discussion, video, written case formulation assignments, and role-playing.

Ugggg.....after this I should be smart, right? This class requires SEVEN - YES - SEVEN text books. My wallet is hurting...