PsychPath & PsychPharm

Catalog description

This course will examine contemporary social work practice in mental health, both by familiarizing students with a range of diagnoses as presented in The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), and also by examining the etiology of presenting conditions from a bio- psycho-social-cultural-spiritual perspective. Current psychopharmacological approaches for common disorders will be reviewed. Students will also be introduced to practice approaches that may be used with specific diagnoses and presenting conditions. Students will examine the mental health service delivery system, the technology it utilizes to treat mental health symptoms, and the effectiveness of the various technologies. Practice issues that may arise in working with consumers at all system levels will be examined and discussed. The goal of this course is not to provide students an overview of all psychiatric disorders, but rather to focus on those which students are most likely to encounter as new social workers. Prerequisite: Admission to the Online MSW Program or permission of program. Offered: spring only.