SWRK 223 DSM
Fall 2008-Sundays
Instructor: Bart Phelps MSW, LCSW
Email: bartlcsw@surewest.net
Office: By appt MRP 1021
Telephone 916-787-5665
Office Hours: Thurs 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm or by appointment
ARC 1009
Class Meets 8:00-5:00
Meeting days: 8/31, 9/20
10/18, 11/15, 12/13
Course Overview:
This course is an advanced clinical course focusing on knowledge and
assessment of the newest developments in psychopathology with the DSM
IVTR the bases of exploration. This course examines mental illness in terms
of clinical presentation, problems, etiology, and processes. An ecological
perspective/strengths perspective is used as an overarching framework in
which to explore the complexities of psychopathology. Included will be a
discussion of the controversies in using DSM diagnosis, both it’s strengths
and limitations. This course provides an examination of the various
psychological disorders as well as theoretical, clinical, and experimental
perspectives of the study of psychopathology. Emphasis is on terminology,
classification, etiology, and assessment of major disorders. The interactions
of biology, cultural, political, and other environmental factors are stressed in
understanding the development and maintenance of mental disorders.
Students should be reminded this is not a course in treatment techniques.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the semester students will be able to:
1. Recognize current research and development efforts to improve diagnosis.
2. Apply the ecological and strengths perspective to an individual.
3. Understand the impact of traumatic and diversified cultural/life
experiences on the formulation of diagnosis.
4. Identify and apply knowledge of biological, psychological, social,
environmental, and spiritual variables and their dynamic and interactive
influence on psychopathology.
5. Demonstrate understanding of and application of the ethical issues
involved in diagnosis.
6. Understand the incidence of, prevalence, risk factors, signs, symptoms,
course and prognosis of major mental health disorders.
7. Demonstrate advanced understanding and accurate use of the DSM IVTR
when performing differential diagnosis.
8. Display advanced competence in the development of differential
diagnosis using the DSM IVTR as a context of accurate diagnosis.
Course Expectations:
Students take responsibility for learning by:
1. Completing assigned readings as noted on the course outline.
2. Submitting completed, well-prepared assignments on the due date.
3. Recognizing the need for additional assistance and support and seeking
this assistance from the professor through established means of
communication, such as email, phone or use of office hours.
4.Demonstrate a level of professional behavior expected of a graduate
student at all times.
5. Take responsibility to barriers to learning.
This is a graduate seminar style course, which will use lecture, discussion
and small group exercises as methods of instruction. Critical to effective
learning is the student’s ability to come to class fully prepared.
Attendance: Please note he following guidelines:
 Is my expectation that you attend all class sessions.
 If a class is missed a make-up assignment may be given.
 If the student misses two class periods the possibility of passing the
class must be discussed with the instructor.
 Leaving class early or arriving late any more that 45 minutes will
cause a deduction in points toward final grade.
Written assignments: Any written assignments must be typed and follow
APA format. Please use 12 point font.
Required Texts:
1. Pomeroy, Elizabeth, & Wambach, Katheryn, The Clinical Assessment
Workbook: Balancing Strengths and Differential Diagnosis. ThompsonBrooks/Cole 2003
2. DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Publishing. This must be the full
large complete DSM.
3. Additional articles as distributed.
Course Assignments:
Examinations (2)
The exams will consist of a Midterm and a Final. Each exam will
include:
 questions about each disorder based on assigned readings and
class discussions.
 Differential Diagnosis questions
 Short answer questions.
The midterm exam will include specific disorders covered up to
that point.
The final exam will cover all course material for the semester.
Clinical Case vignettes (3)
You will be assigned four vignettes from the workbook (Pomeroy
& Wambach, 2003) You will do a comprehensive write up on the
case, answering questions provided in the text. In addition we will
be using vignettes in class that will not be graded but will give you
an idea about what is expected from an analysis of a vignette.
Course Grading:
Clinical Case Vignettes (three at 15 points each)
45 pts
Midterm Exam
25 pts
Final Exam
30 pts
Total 100 points
Grades
A= 96-100
C+ = 77-79
A- = 90-95
C = 73-76
B+ =87-89
C- = 70-72
B= 83-86
D+ = 66-69
B- = 80-82
D = 63-65
D- = 60-62
F= 59 and below
How to study for the Exams
Students who have met with the greatest success in my previous
DSM courses have used flash cards listing a specific diagnosis
name on one side and the criteria on the reverse. This method
allows you to learn to identify disorder by criteria, and the reverse.
Course Outline
Class 1 8/31
Introduction, History of the DSM. Culture and the DSM.
Limitations and controversies, The recovery Model
Strengths perspectives. Assessment & Interviewing.
Multi-Axial Assessment. The Mental Status Exam.
Delirium, Dementia & other Cognitive Disorders.
Anxiety Disorders
Vignettes done in class
Class 2 9/20
Mood Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Bipolar
Disorders, Suicide. The Concept of Spectrum Disorders.
Crisis Intervention.
Adjustment Disorders and other conditions that may be
Focus of Clinical Attention.
Videos and discussion of clinical presentations
Vignette 1 write up: Due next session. Case 7.3
Class 3 10/18
Psychotic Disorders
Film “I’m Still Here
Vignette 2 write up: Due next session. Case 6.3
Midterm Exam
Class 4 11/15
Substance Related Disorders and assessment
Possible Guest Speaker
Personality Disorders
Vignettes Done in Class
Vignette 3 write up: Due Session 5 Case 5.4
Class 5 12/13
Disorders Usually Diagnosed in Childhood
Factitious Disorders, and Somatoform Disorders
Eating Disorders, Sleep Disorders & Dissociative
Disorders.
Final Exam Your final exam will be much like the
Midterm Exam. Questions will include Multiple Choice,
True and False, and Fill in. Questions will not only
Include diagnostic criteria, but will challenge your
knowledge of differential diagnosis.