PSYC 2021 - Psychological Disorders

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab None
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the study of psychological disorders. This includes a focus on each disorder’s symptoms, theories regarding its development, and forms of treatment including psychotherapy. Some of the disorders that will be covered in detail include mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, developmental disorders, and personality disorders. The role of cultural diversity will be integrated throughout the course. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) will be used as a framework for diagnosis.
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 1020  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 1020  with a grade of C or higher OR ENGL 1021  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. Historical views and treatments of psychological disorders
2. Theories of psychopathology
3. Research methods
4. Clinical assessment and diagnosis
5. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive related disorders
6. Trauma- and stressor-related disorders
7. Depressive and bipolar disorders
8. Suicide
9. Somatic symptom and psychophysiological disorders
10. Eating disorders
11. Sexual dysfunctions and gender variations
12. Substance-related and addictive disorders
13. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
14. Disorders common in childhood
15. Disorders of aging and cognition
16. Mental health services: ethical and legal issues
17. Protective factors and resilience

1. identify the criteria psychologists use to define normal and abnormal functioning.
2. differentiate among research methods that are used when studying psychological disorders.
3. name major historical theories and associated treatments for psychological disorders.
4. describe major contemporary theories and associated treatments for psychological disorders.
5. identify the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of the current diagnostic system (DSM).
6. define the assessment tools that are used in clinical psychology.
7. identify the symptoms and prevalence of major psychological disorders.
8. select evidence-based treatments for major psychological disorders.
9. identify the signs, risk factors, and statistics surrounding suicide.
10. explain how aspects of cultural diversity (for example, age, race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status) impact psychological disorders.
11. define ethical concepts that apply to decision-making in clinical and forensic psychology.
12. apply course material to case studies with the goal of identifying strategies to improve individual functioning.
13. construct a plan to improve one’s resilience to developing psychological disorders.

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