Abnormal Psychology Psychology 162-910

Course Syllabus

Summer 2015

Instructor: Christopher Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Phone: 215-590-7066 (office)

E-mail: fitzgeraldc1@email.chop.edu

cfit@sas.upenn.edu

Office Hours: TBD

Scheduled class time: Monday &Wednesday 5:30pm 9:20pm Location: TBD

Required Text: Comer, R.J. (2013). Abnormal Psychology (8th

ed.) DSM-5 update. New York: Worth Publishers. [ISBN-13: 978-1464137198]

Additional required articles will be available electronically on the Canvas site for this course.

Course Description: The aim of this course is to provide students with knowledge about a

variety of behaviors under the rubric of abnormal psychology. The course will review the symptomology of psychological disorders and the major theoretical approaches to

conceptualizing and treating these problems. Although you will learn about treatments

associated with various disorders, the primary focus of the course will be on the disorders

themselves, rather than on the process of psychotherapy. Also covered in this course are related

issues pertaining to diagnosis, social and cultural factors associated with psychopathology, and

research methodology. This will be accomplished through the use of in-class lectures,

demonstrations, videos, and assigned readings.

Course Objectives: By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Describe and explain the major psychological disorders, including their symptoms and predominant forms of treatment.

2. Discuss the current dominant theories regarding the causes of the various psychological disorders.

3. Assess your own attitudes and preconceptions regarding psychological problems and develop greater compassion and appreciation for the human experience.

4. Be able to give basic information to individuals struggling with psychological problems, including facts, resources, and options for treatment.

This course will approach the science of behavior from theoretical, methodological, and ethical

viewpoints. These learning objectives will serve as guides for every section in this course.

Course Requirements:

1. Students are expected to attend all lectures. If you do miss a class you are responsible for

obtaining the information that was presented during the lecture.

2. Students are responsible for completing all assigned readings prior to the day it is discussed in

class, and for asking questions in class to clarify material in the textbook or lecture that they do

not understand. Reading the chapters prior to class greatly facilitates learning.

3. Class Participation- Each class period will have time devoted to engaging in an activity or in

conversation guided by students questions. Students are expected to contribute by participating in the class activity or by responding to the class discussion. The purpose of this is for students

to further their understanding of psychological material, as well as to become comfortable with

conversation and debate about psychological topics. Of course, class attendance is necessary to

earn points for participation. Class participation will be worth 2 points each day for 10 class

periods (excluding the final class period where we will be taking an exam); thus, participation

will total 20 points.

4. Exams Students will take two exams during the course of the semester, which are your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and application of the information presented in

the course. Exams, including the final exam will be non-cumulative and may contain material in

the assigned chapters and from class lectures. Makeup exams will be given only under

extraordinary circumstances and only if the instructor is informed in advance. Any unexcused

absence for an exam will result in a score of zero. Makeup exams must be scheduled within one

week of the original exam date and may be essay or multiple choice format

If you have any condition, such as a physical or mental disability, which will make it difficult for

you to carry out the work as I have outlined it or which will require extra time on exams, please

contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. This should be done well in advance of

the first exam.

5. Final Case Conceptualization Following the final exam, students will complete a case conceptualization, which is a written exercise that is designed to integrate concepts learned

throughout the course and one that is central to the field of abnormal psychology. This will be

an in-class open note assignment. Students will be allowed to use notes they have taken during

the course to assist them in this exercise.

6. Debating topics in mental health paper Part of the development of a knowledge base on a topic is the formations of opinions related to that topic. You will have the opportunity to form

such an opinion in this class by taking a stance on a controversial point within the field of mental

illness. For this assignment, you will write a 5-7 page paper reviewing research relevant to both

sides of the issue. It will include a conclusion paragraph in which you are to state which side of

the issue you believe has the most evidence supporting it. A detailed rubric with further

instructions is available on Canvas. Paper topics must by selected June 3, 2015.

Potential topics will be discussed on the first day of class, but examples of topics includes:

Should persons with severe depression be allowed to receive shock therapy?

Should therapists be allowed to have prescription privileges if they do not have their M.D.s ?

Do videogames lead to violence?

Is abstinence necessary for effective recovery from addiction?

Should adolescents and children be allowed to enroll in gender-reassignment treatment?

Is pornography harmful?

Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity is the heart of the academic and scientific pursuit. Violations of academic

integrity will be handled according to the University of Pennsylvania guidelines. The university

publishes an Academic Honesty Policy in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Students are responsible

for reading and following this policy. All violations will be reported to the Office of Student

Conduct. Please review the Code and ask me if you have any questions about my expectations

or how they may apply to this course.

Grading:

Exams (2 x 100 pts)..200 pts Paper...60 pts Final Case Conceptualization ........40 pts Class Participation..20 pts Total Points.320 pts

The final grade scale, as a % of the total points available:

Grade Total Score Cutoff

A+ 97 100 A 93 96 A- 90 92 B+ 87 89 B 83 86 B- 80 82 C+ 77 79 C 73 76 C- 70 72 D+ 67 69 D 60 66 F 0 59

Extra Credit Extra credit may be earned by writing up to two article review papers. A detailed rubric will be available on Canvas, outlining the requirements for this assignment. Students have

the option of reviewing research articles from the Journal of Abnormal Psychology or the

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. The article review paper will be worth five extra credit

points, to be added to the total points earned in the course. This assignment is not required.

Schedule of Classes and Assigned Readings

Date

Class Material Reading Assignment

Wednesday, May 27 Introduction to class

Abnormal psychology past and present

Chapter 1

Monday, June 1 Research in abnormal psychology

Models of abnormality

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Article: Rosenhan, (1973)

Wednesday, June 3 Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment

Anxiety, OCD, and related disorders

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Article: Marantz Henig, (2009)

Monday, June 8 Anxiety, OCD, and related disorders

Stress disorders

Chapter 6

Wednesday, June 10 Exam #1

Monday, June 15 Mood disorders and their treatment

Suicide

Chapter 8 & 9

Article: Jamison, 1995

Wednesday, June 17 Schizophrenia and its treatment Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Monday, June 22 Disorders of childhood Chapter 17

Wednesday, June 24 Class choice 2 of the following chapters -Personality disorders

-Somatoform and dissociative disorders

-Eating disorders

-Disorders of sex and gender

Monday, June 29 Stigma and mental health

Case conceptualization: The art and science

Wednesday, July 1 Exam #2

Case conceptualization exercise

* NOTE: Class schedule is subject to change throughout the semester

Important Dates:

June 3 Select paper topic June 10 EXAM # 1 June 29 Papers due July 1 EXAM # 2