The Final Exam will NOT be this Thursday. However, the date, time and place of the exam will be announced during class on Thursday.

Professor's Name	TA's Name
Office	Office
Office Hours	Office Hours
Phone 215 895 2455	Phone 215 895 1860

1. Course Description: Abnormal Psychology is the systematic study of mental disorders and other abnormal phenomena such as the morbidity or pathology of the mind. This course will introduce the student to an integrated understanding of psychological well-being and behavioral disorders. The student will achieve an appreciation of the complex factors that cause behavioral disorders, including biological, psychological, and environmental influences. Specific behavioral disturbances that are likely to appear during adolescence and adulthood will be described and examined. Practical experience with a major diagnostic system, the DSM-IV, will be provided through computer-based modules in a laboratory setting.

2. Course Objectives: At the close of the course, the student will understand the following:

• the different meanings of abnormality
• specific patterns of adaptation used in individual human functioning
• types of environmental and interpersonal trauma which cause psychological adaptation patterns to fail
• different psychiatric symptoms often seen in adult disorders
• biological, organic, and genetic contributions to major psychiatric disorders
• different approaches to alleviating mental illness, including psychopharmacology
• the process and limitations of psychological diagnosis
• the evaluation of the DSM-IV as a diagnostic system
• exploration of the world-wide web and electronic resources for the study of abnormal psychology

3. Topical Outline- Lecture:

• the nature and history of abnormality
• approaches to abnormality
• investigating and diagnosing abnormality
• psychological and neuropsychological assessment
• neuroses, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders
• depression , mania, and suicide
• sexual dysfunction
• substance abuse
• personality disorders
• psychoses and schizophrenia
• nervous system disorders
• abnormality and the law

4. Topical Outline- Laboratory Modules:

• the DSM-IV and electronic diagnostic systems
• Anna O., Freud's foundation case for "hysteria"
• Axis I and II disorders, distinguishing features
• Vincent Van Gogh, physiological, social and environmental factors
• C. Manson, development of personality disorders
• A. Hitler, exploration of abnormality and Nazi personality issues
• Aaron B., research case study example

5. Textbooks & Readings:

• Comer, R. J. (1996). Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. New York, NY: Freeman.
• Chute and Bliss (1996). Exploring Psychological Disorders. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole (Macintosh or Windows version)

6. Method of Presentation: Class meetings will have a lecture, slide/video/case presentation and discussion format, with an emphasis on discussion. The software CD-ROM, Psych Disorders, is required for the laboratory portion of the course and is included in the Chute & Bliss book. You must bring your CD to the lab classes {See the schedule for your particular section below}. CD players are available in the Korman center if you do not have one for home study. Purchase either a Mac (white book) or Windows (blue book) version, whichever is most convenient for you.

7. Methods of Evaluation: Attendance is required. A "mid-term" assignment determined by the individual professor, a laboratory grade based on the computer-module assignments, and a final examination will determine the course grade. The "mid-term" assignment, laboratory grade, and final will each count for 1/3 of the final grade. To do well there is no substitute for reading the assigned chapters, attending class, participation in lab, and completing all assignments.

8. Lecture Assignments and Course Outline:

All sections (Section, 1, 21 and 23) will have lectures in assigned Lecture Room with the following topics being covered during the term:

Topic I - Abnormal Behavior: Conceptual and Historical Perspectives	review of course outline, exams, grading, course requirements, etc. how do we define abnormality? understand different models for defining abnormality: statistical, cultural, personal discomfort, theoretical, medical, etc. gain an understanding into the 'myth of mental illness'	Chapter 1(Comer)
Topic II - Models of Abnormal Behavior	know the six contemporary psychopathological theories that are utilized to conceptualize mental illness: biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and psychosocial	Chapter 3, 4 (Comer)
Topic III - Diagnosis and Clinical Assessment	know the biopsychosocial model for the assessment of mental disorders used in the Statistical Manual of Mental disorders (DSM-IV) know the five independent axis of the DSM-IV know the major psychiatric diagnostic categories know psychological and neuropsychological assessment understand standardized testing, reliability, validity, specificity, sensitivity, as well as major psychological and neuropsychological tests	Chapter 2 (Comer)
Topic IV - Mood Disorders	know common symptoms that accompany depression understand the concept of helplessness and hopelessness define endogenous depression, vegetative signs, insomnia, grief reaction, normal versus clinical depression, the role of neurotransmitters know the psychopathology that accompanies mania give examples of the depression that lies beneath mania understand the problem of under-diagnosing mania know the psychopathological manifestations of mania define hypomania, grandiosity, impaired judgment, hyperactivity, pressured speech, bipolar disorder	Chapter 7 (Comer)
Topic V - Anxiety Disorders	appreciate the symptomatology in neuroses know the etiologies theories of anxiety disorders know common symptoms of anxiety, panic, post traumatic stress disorder	Chapter 5, 6 (Comer)
Topic VI - Sexual Disorders	know different sexual disorders, their assessment and treatment spread and prevention of AIDS	Chapter 9 (Comer)
Topic VII - Personality Disorders	understand the features that distinguish personality disorders from other types of psychopathology understand what distinguishes and the basic psychodynamics that accompanies antisocial, narcissistic and borderline personality disorders	Chapter 16 (Comer)
Topic VIII - Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders	give examples of the psychopathology accompanying alcoholism, cannabis abuse, opiate abuse, psychedelic abuse, stimulant abuse and benzodiazepine withdrawal understand psychological dependence, addiction, withdrawal, tolerance level, cross tolerance, habit	Chapter 11 (Comer)
Topic IX - Sleep Disorders	recognize symptoms sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy	Chapter 8 (pg. 235-236) (Comer)
Topic X - Eating Disorders	recognize symptoms of eating disorders	Chapter 10 (Comer)
Topic XI - Schizophrenia	know the psychopathology that accompanies schizophrenia know representative examples of delusions of control, bizarre delusions, hallucinations, illogicality, loose associations, flat affect, positive and negative symptoms, and poverty of content of speech that may occur in schizophrenia be familiar with the problem of over-diagnosis of schizophrenia	Chapter 13 (Comer)
Topic XII - Legal and Ethical Issues	define insanity defense, competency to stand trial, involuntary hospitalization	Chapter 17 (Comer)

For lab syllabus and more information, select your professor listed below:

Prof. Bookwala's Sections

Prof. Chute's Sections

Prof. Zillmer's Sections