Course Outline
Spring 2009
PSYCHOLOGY 421 – ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (3 Credit Hours)
Monday 4:20 – 6:50; Old Main G-9
Dr. John Lombardo - Instructor
Office: G-20 Old Main
Office Phone: X4223
E-Mail - Lombardoj
Office Hours: M – 1:30 - 3:30; Tu – 11:30 - 12:00; W – 11:30 - 12:00; 1:00 - 2:00; Th – 11:30 - 12:00 and by
appointment.
Required Texts:
Oltmanns, T. F. & Emery, R. E. (2007). Abnormal Psychology.
Clipson, C. R., & Steer, J. M. (1998). Case Studies in Abnormal Psychology
Course Description: Prerequisites: Psychology 101, Three additional hours in Psychology.
Purpose and Format of Course:
This course in Abnormal Psychology is an extremely thorough introduction to the classification of abnormal
behavior and the models of abnormal behavior. Each student will be able to identify and describe the major
psychological disorders and the different models’ explanations of cause and treatment. You will also be
thoroughly familiar with the biological model and the relationship of neurotransmitters to abnormal behavior.
In addition to discussing neurotransmitters, we will briefly cover the various medications used to treat
psychological disorders and the theories of how they work (for an in depth study of this topic you should take
Psychopharmacology). Abnormal Psychology is a very complex area of study, and it is a research based course.
We will not sit around and discuss your uncle Fred’s depression or your friend’s bulimia. We will discuss what
your uncle must experience to be diagnosed depressed. We will discuss at least three psychological theories of
depression, two biochemical theories and at least three treatment modalities. There is a great deal of
information in the text book and reading it will, at times, seem like you are reading a text book in Anatomy and
Physiology. You should study for this course just as you would a course in Anatomy and Physiology. If
somewhere along in your academic career, someone told you memorizing complex material is a bad thing and
you believe it, you may not do well in this course.
Course Grades:
Before the final exam there will be four tests. Each test will be worth 65 to 80 points (65-80 questions). Your
grade on any test will be based on percentages. That is, if your numerical score is between 90 and 100 percent
of the total number of points, your grade is an A, 80-89 percent is a B, 70-79 percent is a C, 60-69 percent is a
D. Below 59 percent is an E.
The final will be a two part exam. The first part of the final will be the fifth examination (Chapter 13 and
lecture notes from that chapter) and the sixth test will be the second part of the final. The second part of the
final (the cumulative part) will cover Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11. There will be 12-15 questions from each of
those chapters. You will not be responsible for lecture notes or assigned readings from Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9 and
11. Only the textbook chapters.
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Make-Up Tests:
Make-up tests will be given only for documented absences such as a note from the Dean indicating you were ill
and not in school or a sanctioned school event such as an athletic event (a note from the coach is required).
Course Attendance Policy:
Attendance will be taken each class. The college policy on attendance will be followed. Attendance will be
taken into consideration when final grades are decided.
Important Notes:
If you are a student with a disability and wish to request accommodations, please contact the Office of Student
Disability Services located in B-40 Van Hoesen Hall or call (607) 753-2066 for an appointment. Information
regarding your disability will be treated in a confidential manner. Because many accommodations require early
planning, requests for accommodations should be made as early as possible.
Please note the College policies on plagiarism in the College Handbook. Specifically “each student is expected
to present his or her own work. All papers, examinations, and other assignments must be original or explicit
acknowledgment must be given for the use of other persons’ ideas or language”. (p. 47)
Here is a list of the DO’s:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
SHUT OFF ALL CELL PHONES BEFORE YOU COME TO CLASS.
KEEP ALL CELL PHONES OUT OF SIGHT.
Do ask questions during a lecture. If I am not making myself clear, ask for clarification. You are
here to learn the material, if you do not understand a part of a lecture, you will not learn the
material.
Do ask for help if you need it. I will be happy to meet with you during my office hours or, if
need be, by appointment.
Men and Women–Please remove your hats. Please remember baseball caps were meant to keep
the sun out of your eyes and for warmth. Since we will be in a heated building, you do not have
to worry about heat escaping from your head.
Here is a list of the things you should not do:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Do not ask me if you can do an extra credit project to raise your grade. If your grade is that bad,
your time will be better spent putting more time into the course or you should be spending more
time in my office getting help.
Do not come to class with your cell phone on.
We will meet only once a week–there are only 14 lectures. I do not believe or expect you can get
a good grade in this course by missing many classes, and good students simply do not miss class.
Plan your social calendar around the syllabus. Do not ask me to make an exception for you for
missing a test because your social calendar the weekend before a test is full, or you haven’t seen
your significant other for a long time and you think the day before a test would be a good time to
do so. Make-up tests will not be given for any reason other than a documented illness or written
notice from your Dean. Also do not have your parents call me because you all want to take an
extended trip. All make-up tests will be essay in format. Being hit by a train may count for
missing a test, but only if your hospital bed does not fit through the door of this classroom.
Please do not ask me if you should know such and such from the textbook because I did not
lecture on it. Anything in the textbook, the case study book, the handouts and my lectures is fair
game for a test. If it is in one of the books, on a handout or I said it, know it.
Please do not be scared out of this course by the list of DO NOTS.
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Date
Text Chapter
Monday, January 26
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Examples and Definitions of Abnormal Behavior
Causes of Abnormal Behavior
Monday, February 2
Chapter 3:
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Monday, February 9
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Chapter 3:
Examples and Definitions of Abnormal Behavior
Causes of Abnormal Behavior
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Monday, February 16
TEST #1:
Chapters 1, 2, 3; All Class Notes, Readings and
Handouts
Chapter 18:
Mental Health and the Law
Chapter 18:
Chapter 5:
Mental Health and the Law
Mood Disorders and Suicide
Monday, February 23
Read Case Studies:
Monday, March 2
5–Major Depressive Disorder
6–Bipolar Disorder
TEST #2:
Chapters 5, 18; Case Studies 5, 6; All Class
Notes, Readings and Handouts
Chapter 6:
Anxiety Disorders
Read Case Studies:
2–Panic Disorder
3–Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Monday, March 9
Spring Break
Monday, March 16
Chapter 6:
Anxiety Disorders
Monday, March 23
Chapter 7:
Stress Disorders; Dissociative Disorders;
Somatoform Disorders
Case Study: 4–Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Case Study on Reserve:
MPD
Monday, March 30
Chapter 7:
Chapter 8:
Stress Disorders; Dissociative Disorders;
Somatoform Disorders
Stress and Physical Health
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Date
Monday, April 6
Monday, April 13
Text Chapter
TEST #3:
Chapters 6, 7; Case Studies 2, 3, 4, MPD; All
Class Notes, Readings and Handouts
Chapter 8:
Stress and Physical Health
Chapter 9:
Personality Disorders
Case Studies: 12–Borderline Personality Disorder
13–Anti-Social Personality
Monday, April 20
Chapter 11:
Substance Abuse Disorders
Monday, April 27
TEST #4:
Chapters 8, 9, 11; Case Studies 12, 13; All Class
Notes, Readings and Handouts
Chapter 13:
Schizophrenia
Chapter 13:
Schizophrenia
Monday, May 4
Friday, May 8 – Wednesday, May 13
FINAL EXAM PERIOD
The First Part of the final examination will cover Chapter 13 (including class notes). The Cumulative Part
will cover Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11. Questions on the cumulative part of the final exam will cover only the
textbook NOT THE CASE STUDIES, HANDOUTS OR CLASS NOTES.