PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
DEGREE: BACHELOR IN PSYCHOLOGY
DEGREE COURSE YEAR: 3rd
1º SEMESTER
2º SEMESTER
BASIC
COMPULSORY
CATEGORY:
NO. OF CREDITS (ECTS): 6
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
TUTORIALS:
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES: OBLIGATORY 75% CLASS ATTENDANCE
OPTIONAL
1. SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to introduce you to psychopathology, the scientific study of abnormal
behavior. The course provides a broad survey of mental disorders, with an emphasis on the
major forms of mental disorder found in adults. We will discuss diagnostic issues and methods
used to study psychopathology. We will also examine a variety of mental disorders from several
different theoretical and treatment perspectives. Focus will be on diagnosis, epidemiology,
etiology, and treatment issues following the DSM –IV. Although you will learn about the
treatments that are effective for particular disorders, the main focus will be on the disorders
themselves, rather than on the process of psychotherapy. The course emphasizes a scientific
and critical thinking approach to the understanding of abnormal behavior. You will be
encouraged not only to learn what clinical scientists have discovered so far about the nature of
mental disorders, but also to understand some of the controversial issues and unresolved
questions that psychologists face as they seek to better understand, prevent, and alleviate
psychological suffering.
Edited by IE Publishing Department.
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2. OBJECTIVES AND SKILLS
2.1 COURSE GOAL
The main goal of the course is to create greater awareness and knowledge of psychopathology
in hopes that we can reduce the suffering and stigma associated with mental disorders.
By the end of the semester, students should:
 Know the basic theories of the current paradigms of Psychopathology: Biological,
Humanistic, Psychoanalytical, Cognitive, Evolutional, and Behavioral.
 Recognize the historical and contemporary explanations for abnormal behavior, with an
emphasis on how psychological, biological, and social factors interact to produce and
maintain mental disorders.
 Understand the challenges involved in assessing and accurately diagnosing mental
disorders, and the tools that professionals have developed to facilitate these tasks.
 Apply their learning to solving descriptions of the main forms of abnormal behavior found in
adults, including the prevalence, symptoms, clinical course, risk factors, and best-available
treatments for these disorders.
 Discuss the emerging trends in the study, assessment, and treatment of psychopathology,
with an emphasis on questions and technologies that are generating particular excitement in
the field.
2.2 COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this class, we will examine the vast complexity of the current paradigms used to classify and
diagnose Psychopathology. We will answer questions such as, “What is considered Abnormal?”
“When does one need to seek medical attention?” “When does normal behavior become an
abnormal disorder?”
Throughout the course we will discuss all of the mental disorders classified by the DSM-IV and
we will examine how the manual is designed to understand and predict behavior.
I will make every effort to share my knowledge and passion for this subject matter with you, to
answer the questions that you raise, and to be available for out-of-class discussion. In return,
you will be responsible for doing the assigned readings before each class, coming to class
prepared to learn and think about the material, and ask me about any aspect of the reading or
the class that is unclear to you.
3. COURSE CONTENT
i. INTRODUCTION, HISTORICAL OVERVIEW, PARADIGMS, DIAGNOSIS AND THE DSM
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
 Introduction and History
ii. ETIOLOGY OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
 The 4 characteristics of abnormality (the 4 D´s)
iii. MORAL TREATMENT MOVEMENT
 Lobotomy
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iv. PARADIGMS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
 Cognitive
 Behavioral
 Psychoanalytical
 Biological
 Humanistic
 Evolutional
v. DIAGNOSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
 Arguments for and against the DSM-V
 The reasons we keep using the DSM-IV
vi. ANXIETY DISORDERS: UNDERSTANDING FEAR, PANIC DISORDERS, THE PHOBIAS
Diagnostic criteria and most effective treatments for:
 Panic Disorder
 Agoraphobia
 Specific Phobias
 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
 Gender differences in Anxiety Disorders
 Difference between fear (emotion) and anxiety(mood)
vii. EATING DISORDERS
Diagnostic criteria and most effective treatments for:
 Anorexia
o Clinical signs
o Medical complications
 Bulimia
o Clinical signs
o Medical complications
 Social/cultural/family factors associated with Eating disorders
viii. SEXUAL AND GENDER IDENTITY DISORDERS
Diagnostic criteria and most effective treatments for:
 Sexual dysfunctions
 Paraphilias
 Gender Identity Disorders
ix.
CREATIVITY AND MOOD DISORDERS
Diagnostic criteria and most effective treatments for:
 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
 Bipolar Disorder and Suicide
 Bipolar 1
 Bipolar 2
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x.
xi.
PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
Diagnostic criteria and most effective treatments for:
 Schizophrenia and it´s 5 Subtypes
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA AND MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR ALL 10
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
xii. CONCLUSIONS
4. COURSE TIMELINE
SESSION
Session
1&2
LECTURE CONTENT
Wednesday, Jan 14:
Unit
1:
Introduction,
Historical
Overview, Paradigms, Diagnosis and
the DSM Research Methods in
Psychopathology
Session 3
&4
Wednesday, Jan 21:
Unit
2:
Anxiety
Disorders:
Understanding Fear, Panic Disorders,
the Phobias
Session
5&6
Wednesday, Feb 4:
Unit 3: Anxiety Disorders: Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Session
7&8
Wednesday, Feb 11:
Unit 4: Eating Disorders
Session
9&10
Wednesday, Feb 18:
Unit 5: Sexual Disorders
Session
11&12
Session
13&14
Wednesday, Feb 25:
MID TERM EXAM
Wednesday, March 4:
Unit 6: Creativity and Mood Disorders
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MATERIAL
Readings: Chapter 1 & 2 (book)
Question of the Week: What is Abnormal
Behavior?
Briefly
describe
five
characteristics of abnormality. Explain the
strengths and weaknesses of each in
defining abnormality. Explain how these
characteristics, collectively, form a
framework for understanding abnormality.
Readings: Chapter 6 (book)
Question of the Week: Describe the
characteristics of generalized anxiety
disorder
(GAD).
Summarize
the
psychoanalytic, four cognitive-behavioral,
and two biological views on its cause.
Readings: Chapter 6 (book)
Question of the Week: How is PTSD
defined differently from most disorders?
Describe three main characteristics of
PTSD and describe three theories of its
cause.
Readings: Chapter 9 (book)
Question of the Week: Summarize the
cognitive-behavioral view of anorexia
nervosa and of bulimia nervosa.
Readings: Chapter 14 (book)
Question of the Week: Identify and
distinguish among the three kinds of
sexual problems discussed in this
chapter.
*Possible movie to watch after the exam
regarding PTSD or OCD
Readings: Chapter 10 (book)
Question of the Week: Three biological
therapies are discussed for mood
disorders. For each, describe its
effectiveness,
advantages,
and
disadvantages.
Sessions
15 & 16
Wednesday, March 11:
Unit 7: Depression
Session
17&18
Monday, March 16:
Unit 8: Bipolar Disorder and Suicide
Sessions
19 & 20
Wednesday, March 18:
Unit 9: Schizophrenia
Session
21&22
Wednesday, March 25:
Unit 10: Personality Disorders
Sessions
23&24
Wednesday, April 8:
ALL TERM PAPERS ARE DUE: NO
EXCEPTIONS!
Wednesday, April 13: FINAL EXAM
Session
25&26
Sessions
27&28
Sessions
29&30
Readings: Chapter 10 (book)
Question of the Week: Give at least five
different characteristics of depression and
of mania. Distinguish among the two
major mood disorders and the two chronic
mood disorders in the DSM-IV.
Readings: Chapter 10 (book)
Question of the Week: Describe four
theories of suicide. According to
psychological tests, what are three
characteristics of people likely to, or not
likely to, commit suicide? List two reasons
why it is difficult to predict suicide in
individual cases? Why is suicide more
common among males?
Readings: Chapter 11 (book)
Question of the Week: Describe the
treatment approaches for Schizophrenia
describing the rationale, methods, and
results for case management.
Readings: Chapter 13 (book)
Question of the Week: Why is therapy
with borderline personalities so difficult?
OR: How effective is psychotherapy with
psychopaths? Why?
Presentations begin
Presentations Proceed
Friday, April 17:
Final Exam Review
Wednesday, April 29:
Last day of school
Final Exam
5. EVALUATION
At the end of the semester, you will be assigned a grade based on demonstration of your
knowledge based on class activities, term paper, final presentation, midterm exam and the final
exam. Please see your class schedule for all due dates.
5.1. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Requirements
Attendance/ Participation/ Response Paper(s)
Midterm Exam
Term Paper
Final Exam
Percentage
25%
25%
25%
25%
Attendance/Participation:
Please read the assigned chapters/articles before each lecture. While some lectures will be
based on the readings, others will use the readings as a launching point for related topics. Each
week, during the second section of class, we will discuss the week´s topic in a seminar-type
environment. Please come prepared with ideas and with questions relevant to the week´s
reading.
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Response Papers:
Each week I will present a question related to the week´s lecture topics. You will be required to
write response papers for 6 of the 12 questions. Each paper will be 2 pages double-spaced and
it should reflect your personal response to the week´s question informed by assigned readings.
Papers will be graded √+, √ or √-.
Late/Missing Assignments:
Late assignments will NOT be accepted under any circumstances and final presentations
cannot be made-up. Thus, students must plan their assignments and absences carefully. The
midterm and the final are the only assessments that can be rescheduled but ONLY in cases of
emergency or illness. ALL such arrangements are the full responsibility of the student and must
be made PRIOR to the due date.
Exams:
Two in-class exams (a midterm and a final) will be given including multiple-choice and short
answer questions designed to reflect analytical and critical thinking skills. Exams are based on
class lectures; videos presented by the instructor, discussions, textbook content, and assigned
readings. There is no provision for early exams for any reason. Makeup exams are only given
with official documentation stating the reason for missing the exam and only at the discretion of
the instructor and only if the instructor is notified in advance that you will miss an exam.
Term Paper:
You will be required to write a minimum 10 page double spaced paper using APA format and
style. You may choose any topic that is related to abnormal psychology. The paper should seek
to answer a focused research question. The answer to that question will be your thesis
statement. You should support your thesis with evidence from the existing psychological
literature on psychopathology.
5.2. TERM PAPER GUIDELINES
1) The paper will be 10 pages (double-spaced, 1”margins, 12 pt. standard font). Please number
all pages and remember that that Title page and the Reference Section are NOT included in
the page count.
2) Topic: You may write upon any topic that involves abnormal psychology. You may want to
pick a topic that you would like to know more about but that is not covered in the course
readings, or you may write in depth about a topic that we have touched upon in the course.
Pick a topic that you are excited about!
3) The paper should include a thorough and well written literature review.
4) Your literature review should focus primarily on peer review journal articles related to your
topic. You may also use scholarly books as references. Keep pop psych
newspapers/magazine references out.
5) How many references? A good rule of thumb is to have one reference for each page of text
that you write.
6) After reading the articles and books or book chapters pertinent to your topic, devise a thesis.
Your thesis should be specific rather than broad. Examples: “The Treatment of Alcoholism”
(Too broad, bad) “Is Antabuse an Effective Treatment for Alcoholism?” (Very specific, good)
“Personality and Eating Disorders” (Too broad, bad)
“The Relationship of Perfectionism and Anorexia Nervosa” (Very specific)
7) Your thesis should appear early in the paper and should not be a guessing game on the
answer that you are trying to solve.
8) The bulk of your paper should present evidence relative to your thesis.
9) One effective technique is to present two opposing points of view on your thesis topic, and
demonstrate that the preponderance of evidence supports a particular point of view.
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10)
Here are some tips from Justin Brown (formerly of Harvard Psychology Department)
that you may find helpful:
 Gather specific data that support your argument
 Cite very specific details from your references
 It is almost better to paraphrase than to quote
 Avoid vague impressions and focus on detailed evidence
 Always be clear on how your evidence relates to your argument
 Be critical of your own argument, but don’t be vague or indecisive, for example, make a
strong case for an alternative perspective and then make an even stronger case for your
own perspective.
Your paper should have an introduction (including a thesis), a body presenting detailed
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and specific evidence to back the thesis, a conclusions section, and a reference section.
12)
Use APA format for in-text citations, reference section, and subheadings.
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Be very careful to cite conclusions, theories and ideas (as well
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as data) that you´ve gotten from other authors.
6. COURSE POLICIES
Attendance
Students are expected to arrive promptly for each class and to remain for the entire session. It is
expected that you attend every class session. Only with an excused absence are students
allowed to make-up the missed assignment. In general, students who miss class will be
responsible for obtaining notes and assignments from other students. Students who miss a
class, in which a quiz is given, will not be able to make up the quiz under any circumstances.
In order to receive an excused absence, students must bring a note of justification to class.
Students who miss more than 9 class sessions will automatically fail the course and will be
required to take a make-up exam. They will only be eligible to take 2 make-up exams total.
Use of electronic devices in class
All cell phones must be turned off and out of sight during class.
In any case, the use of Wi-Fi for activities not related to this class will hinder your grade on
participation (Facebook, Skype, email, reading the news)
Academic integrity
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Anyone found cheating or plagiarism will at a
minimum receive a “0” on the affected assignment and an automatic lowering of your final
course grade and will be referred to the University Judicial System for further action. Further
penalties could include a note on your transcript, failing the class, or expulsion from the
university.
Communication
There are several means of communication at your disposal:
Office Hours: I am available to meet with you by appointment. Please write an email where you
should outline the objectives of the meeting, and the points/questions/doubts, which you would
like to discuss during the meeting. It is very important to write the email with all your doubts in
order to have a more effective and efficient meeting.
Email: If you have a small doubt and need to resolve quickly and not necessary in person, you
are welcome to write an email with your doubts and clear questions. I will try to respond to you
within 48 hours. Realize I will not likely be on line when you send your email and I will need
some time to access and thoughtfully respond to your questions.
Student privacy statement
At times, students may disclose personal information through class discussions. It is expected
that the class will respect the privacy of their classmates. The information disclosed in the class
will not be repeated or discussed with other students outside of the course.
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Per university policy
Each student can take 4 exams per subject in 2 consecutive courses.
 It is mandatory to attend 70% of the classes. Students who do not comply with this
percentage of attendance lose the 1st and second exams and go directly to the 3rd one.
 Grading for the students on make-up exams will be subject to the following rules:
i. Those students who failed the subject in the first round of exams, pass to the 2nd
session, except those who do not comply with the percentage of attendance to class and
go directly to the 3rd session.
ii. The maximum grade that a student may obtain in the 2nd exam session is 8.
iii. Those students in the 3rd call will be required to attend 50% of the classes. If due to
schedule overlap, a different option will be discuss with the professor in order to pass the
subject.
Disabled students:
To request academic accommodations due to a disability, contact Candela Terriza
(Candela.Terriza@ie.edu). If you have a letter from DSS indicating that you have a disability
that requires accommodation, please present the letter to your instructors promptly.
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