BIRKBECK COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
FACULTY OF LIFELONG LEARNING
Module/Occurrence Code:
FFPS025S4BLB
Subject Area:
Psychology
Module Title:
Abnormal Psychology
Award Designation:
Psychology (Cert of Higher Education)
Applied Psychology (Cert of Higher Education)
Applied Psychology – Occupational (Cert of HE)
Venue:
Hammersmith and Fulham AEC
Macbeth Centre W6
First Meeting:
Saturday 4th October 2008, 10:00am-1:00pm
No of Meetings:
22 meeting(s)
Class Dates:
Term 1: 04/10/08 – 06/12/08
Term 2: 17/01/09 – 28/03/09
Class Taught by:
Chrissie Sanderson
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Although this module is open to all, students will benefit from completing the introductory
module Foundations in Modern Psychology or by preparing with appropriate preparatory
reading as detailed below.
AIM
To evaluate different approaches to psychopathology and the forms of treatment.
OBJECTIVES
 Review the nature and causes of the major forms of mental disorder.
 Examine the main forms of treatment and their effectiveness.
 Give an overview of the research methods used within this area of psychology, including
their relative advantages and disadvantages.
 Highlight the ethical issues involved when conducting research [with particular reference to
harm] and the issues that arise when trying to generalise results (for example across
cultures).
 Support students to take part in the assessment process.
 Build students’ confidence in presenting their own ideas and in critical thinking.
 Support and develop students’ study skills, including note taking and essay writing.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course you will be able to:
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Discuss issues of description and diagnosis.
Describe and comment on the nature and causation of mental disorders.
Evaluate different approaches to treatment for their effectiveness.
Demonstrate an understanding of the development of ideas within this field, and of
contemporary approaches and issues.
Recognise a range of research methods that might be appropriate to the study of this area
of psychology (identifying strengths and weaknesses of core methodologies).
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Identify the ethical issues when conducting research in this area (with particular
consideration of harm).
Demonstrate an appropriate awareness of cultural considerations in the evaluation of
theory and research.
Illustrate the practical applications of research findings.
Think critically about the subjects covered.
Present your own ideas about issues addressed on the course.
Discuss and implement a range of strategies to support your learning.
Successfully plan and write essays or other assignments which have been set to support
your learning on this course.
CONTENT
Description and diagnosis
Historical and philosophical aspects. What is 'normal' and what is 'abnormal'? This part of the
course looks at concepts of mental health and models of abnormality. It will also discuss the
assessment and diagnosis of different conditions and ask how reliable such diagnoses are.
Nature and causation of mental disorders
Medical and psychological considerations. Schizophrenia, mood disorders, phobias, obsessions
and compulsions will be examined, as will disorders more usually associated with childhood
such as autism and eating disorders.
Approaches to treatment
Different approaches will be evaluated for their effectiveness, including drugs and physical
treatments, behavioural and cognitive therapies, and psychoanalysis and other
psychotherapies.
Social policy and mental health
Legal and ethical issues. The relationship between mental disorders and the law will be
discussed, as well as community care and the rights of patients.
TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS
A range of teaching methods may be used e.g. lectures on the area being studied - students
are encouraged to ask questions and discuss points throughout. There may also be small
group exercises with feedback to the large group to provide an opportunity for clarification of
ideas and discussion. Other methods may include: videos, experiments, student
presentations, discussion of published articles, etc. Students will be given help with study
skills.
Students should also expect to build on their learning in class by undertaking guided
independent study including appropriate reading and research, further details can be found in
the appropriate Award Handbook as detailed below.
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
The assessment process gives students important opportunities to learn, to check their
learning and to discuss their progress with the tutor. Consequently, students will be expected
to prepare four pieces of coursework for assessment. Two of which will be written under timed
conditions in the classroom. The other two may take a variety of forms such as essays, case
studies, reports and possibly class presentations. These two pieces of work will each be 1,500
words in length (or the equivalent). Students are encouraged to discuss with their tutor the
particular topics and the type of assignment they would like to focus on in their assessments.
It may be possible to accommodate students’ personal interests within the syllabus.
The module is part of the (a) Psychology and (b) Applied Psychology (Certificates of Higher
Education). If the course is completed successfully, 30 CATS points will be awarded, which
may be transferred to some degree courses.
READING
You are not expected to read all the books listed below. They are examples of books that you
may find interesting or useful. Some are introductory texts and some are more advanced for
those people who have studied psychology before or who have studied at university before.
Students who have not studied psychology before, will find the texts identified with a * below,
particularly useful for preparatory reading:
*Carr, A. (2001) Abnormal Psychology, Routledge
*Comer, R. J. (2000) Abnormal Psychology (4th ed), W. H. Freeman
Costello, T. W., Costello, J. T. & Holmes, D.A. (1995) Abnormal Psychology, Harper Collins
*Davison, G. D. & Neale, J. M. (2001) Abnormal Psychology (8th ed), J Wiley
*Seligman, M. E. P., Walker, E. F. & Rosenhan, D. L. (2001) Abnormal Psychology (4th ed.),
Norton
More detailed or advanced:
Brislin, R. (1993) Understanding Culture's Influence on Behaviour, Harcourt
Carr, A. (2006) The Handbook of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology, Routledge.
Comer R J et al. (2001) Case Studies for Abnormal Psychology, Worth.
Eysenck, M. W. (1994) Individual Differences: Normal and Abnormal, Psychology Press
Fernando, S. (1996) Mental Health in a Multi-Ethnic Society, Routledge
Nevid, J. S., Rathus, S. A. and Greene, B. (2000) Abnormal Psychology in a Changing World,
Prentice Hall.
Newton, J. (1995) Preventing Mental Illness, Routledge
Oltmanns, T.F., Neale, J.M. & Davison, G.C. (1999) Case studies in Abnormal Psychology (5th
ed), John Wiley & Sons
Owusu-Bempah, K. & Howitt, D. (2000) Psychology Beyond Western Perspectives, BPS
Blackwell
Pilgrim, D. (1997) Psychotherapy and Society, Sage
Power, M. & Dalgleish, T. (1997) Cognition and Emotion: from Order to Disorder, Psychology
Press
The course lecturer may also recommend other books for use during the course.
LIBRARY AND STUDY SKILLS RESOURCES
To join the library – once you have enrolled send in a passport size photograph of yourself with
your full name, student number and module code on the back to your subject Executive
Officer. Your library card also serves as your ID card. Once you have your library card you
can also activate your Birkbeck computer account. This will give you access to electronic
resources – for instructions and further information see this link
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/userinfo/fcestudents/fceccsstud
You may find the following web links helpful for your studies.
 For information on how best to access the resources available for psychology students
through Birkbeck College Library, students may wish to work through the tutorial
available at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/life/
 For guidance on study skills, including essay and report writing, research and
referencing, go to http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/psychology where you will be directed to
relevant links.
 For specific guidance for psychologists and psychology students on getting the best
out the internet go to http://www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/tutorial/psychologist
 For specific guidance on how to avoid plagiarism in your course work go to
https://connect.le.ac.uk/p50066682/ and press the ‘play’ button.
COURSE EVALUATION:
During the course students will be asked to complete an evaluation form which gives the
opportunity to provide feedback on all aspects of their learning.
Revised April 2008