Psychology of Disorders
Psychology 235
Dr. Thomas Link
Winter 2008, 9am
tlink@pierce.ctc.edu
Classroom: Olympic 329
253 964–6316
Late papers accepted with penalty: message beforehand is key.
Office: Olympic 211
Office hours Tu – Fr 8:30 – 9:00 am, Mon – Thur 11:30 – 12, Wed, Thur 1 – 1:30 pm and by appt.
http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/tlink/disorders
Exams:
Approximately Thur, Jan 17, Tuesday Feb 5, Monday, Feb 25, and
Wednesday, March 12
(You get take home exam questions 3-4 class periods before they are due.)
Book Club:
Wed, Jan 9
Every Wed,
Jan 23-Feb 20
Choose book (Class chooses 3 or 4; you choose 1 of those)
Read ¼ of the book for each week – question/quote cards – 2 each week
Feb 20th – discuss whole book and prepare for presentation
Presentation:
Feb 25th – Mar 14th
In pairs, present on a disorder. Focus on description, cause or treatment
A week before
presentation
Presentation conference and outline due. Schedule with me outside of
class time.
Schedule:
Wed, Jan 2
Fri, Jan 18
Mon, Jan 21
Mon, Feb 18
Tues, Feb 19
Fri, Mar 14
M-W, Mar 17-19
First Day of Classes
No Psychology Class
no classes – MLK Holiday
no classes – President’s Day
no classes – All District Day
Last Day of Classes
Exam Period – We have 4th exam due on Mon, no class
Textbook:
Comer, R. (2006?). 4th Edition. Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. New York: Worth
Publishing Co.
Earlier editions of Fundamentals or the hardbound book are ok. Schwartz’s book ok, too.
OPTIONAL: Casebook for Comer
Study Guide for Abnormal Psychology.
Page 2
Grading
Use the scale to convert to decimal grade. I use all points on the scale (3.9, 3.8, etc)
Presentation
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Exam 4
Book Club
Study Q’s
(All together)
Total
Divide by 7
to get
percent.
200
100
100
100
100
100
Percent
95-100%
92%
88%
85%
82%
Point
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
Letter
A
AB+
B
B-
700
78%
75%
72%
68%
65%
60%
<60%
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.7
0.0
C+
C
CD+
D
DF
Reading
st
1 3 days
Next 2-3 weeks
Next 2-3 weeks
Introduction – Depression and descriptiveness
Chapters 1-3
Overview of Models w/ specific disorders
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY IN SCIENCE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE
1. Abnormal Psychology: Past and Present
3-4 days
2. Models of Abnormality
2-3 days
3. Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment 3-4 days
Topic
Ch. 7 Depression
Focus on cognitive model
Ch. 4 or 5, Generalized Anxiety
Focus on humanistic/existential model
Ch. 12, Schizophrenia
Focus on biological model
Reading
pages 193-198
pages 207-211
pages 95-96
page 100
page 351-360
pages 361-366
Could do borderline, antisocial & narcissistic and Psychoanalytic
Autism, Phobia, and Behavioral model
The rest of the reading depends on the distribution of presentation choices.
PROBLEMS OF STRESS AND ANXIETY
4. Anxiety Disorders
5. Stress Disorders
6. Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
PROBLEMS OF MOOD
7. Mood Disorders
8. Suicide
Page 3
PROBLEMS OF MIND AND BODY
9. Eating Disorders
10. Substance-Related Disorders
11. Sexual Disorders and Gender Identity Disorder
PROBLEMS OF PSYCHOSIS
12. Schizophrenia
LIFE-SPAN PROBLEMS
13. Personality Disorders
14. Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
15. Disorders of Aging and Cognition
CONCLUSION
16. Law, Society, and the Mental Health Profession
Access & Disability Services
If you are a student with a disability and believe you may need academic adjustments, auxiliary
aids or services to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements, please make an
appointment with me or the Access and Disability Services Coordinator to discuss these
accommodations. The Access and Disability Services (ACS) Needs Office is located in the Advising
Center (964-6527, TTY 964-6228). Students requesting accommodations must obtain the “Approved
Quarterly Academic Adjustments, Auxiliary Aids or Services” (green) form provided by ADS. Many
excellent resources are available to help meet the needs of students.
Specific Objectives
* Appreciate and apprehend the complexity of human experience; practice thinking about the many
factors that go into each person's life. Deeply explore important similarities and differences amongst
the lives in the classroom and those in the world.
* Understand the scientific approach to the social sciences, especially how knowledge is created and
what judgments are involved; practice applying knowledge and methods of psychological science to
issues you are interested in.
* Better understand what you already know about psychological disorders and psychology, and why
you know it; practice critically analyzing your ideas and other's ideas.
* Understand the complexity of diagnosis and social judgments about what is abnormal, so that it is
not either "crazy" or "normal".
* Understand DSM IV axes and distinguish one category of disorder
from another by main symptoms.
In Class Exams
They will be multiple choice with a few short answer (1-2 sentences). I try to focus on the major ideas,
with an emphasis on understanding why a concept is important. You can bring one page of notes (8
1/2" x 11"), 1 sided, to the first test, half a page, 1 sided, to the second test, a note card to the third test,
and none to the last exam.
Class Presentation Project
is done with another student. It is a selected topic in abnormal psychology of interest to you and
approved by your instructor – it needs to be related to the book you are reading for book club. You are
to prepare an oral class presentation about 1 hour in length and a detailed outline of this presentation.
You are to make an appointment one week prior to your presentation to discuss your topic and your
Page 4
detailed outline. This outline will be copied for all members of the class to assist their learning of the
material you will present. I'll expect you to choose your topic by the end of the second week.
<home_presentation.html>
Attendance & Participation.
If your response to "I'm not sure what we're supposed to be taking notes on" is to stop and wait for it to
become clear, you'll have difficulties in this class. I give you different types of information about what
will be important; I expect you to try to piece it together and ask questions based on that. Don't simply
write down what's on the board. The information on the left hand side is a guide, but I expect you to
write the examples and explanations we are discussing, whether it's a fellow student or me. Good, rich
examples will have 2, 3 or 4 concepts embodied in them. Let me know if you aren't seeing them.
Use the objectives above, the structure of the textbook (headings), and the exam reviews (with sample
questions) to help you figure out what you need to be doing with the material.
You are expected to work with your classmates for their benefit as well as yours. On many days class
discussion and activities will be based on the class before, so attendance and preparation are important.
Individually, make ups and other arrangements will be made based upon your pattern of behavior. As a
class, it will be used in determining whether your test grades are curved or not. Attendance will be
taken regularly at the beginning of the quarter, then occasionally throughout the rest of the quarter. I
am looking for a pattern of behavior. Things that will help: Being prepared when you come; keeping
group on track; do overnight handouts; ask questions about what you don’t understand based on
reading. Things that will not: missed days; coming late; being disruptive when late; talking loud
enough and often to disrupt people around you; getting group of track.
Grading Policies
1.
“Back-up Curve”: There is a back-up curve that will be used only if the class does poorly in terms of final
course grades, i.e., it will be used only if more than half the class receives a course grade below 2.5. In this event,
everyone’s course grade will be curved up until 50% of the class receives a 2.5 or higher. If 50% or more of the
class is getting a 2.5 or above, then no curve will be used.
2.
Incompletes: Only students with special circumstances beyond their control who have obtained permission from
me are eligible for a grade of Incomplete.
3.
Withdrawing: You may withdraw from the class without it showing on your transcript through the end of the 3rd
week of classes. After that, it will show up on the transcript. The last day to withdraw is in the 7th week of
classes. The W grade is not used in GPA calculations. When in doubt, communicate with me.
4.
Academic Honesty: Cases of cheating plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty are unacceptable in this
course and are subject to disciplinary action.
5.
Emergency Procedures: For life-threatening emergencies call 911 and then Campus Safety. In the event of an
emergency evacuation, gather all personal belongings and leave the building using the nearest safe exit. Be
prepared to be outside for a minimum of an hour and stand a minimum of 200 feet from any building or structure.
Do not attempt to re-enter the building until instructed. Should a class be cancelled, it is your responsibility to keep
up on reading, homework and deliverable assignments.