Psychopathology

Catalog description

This elective course covers the domain of psychopathology as it is represented in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This course is designed to provide students with extensive knowledge of psychological, emotional and mental illnesses within the context of pathology and persons in environment (PIE). Students will be educated about the types and causes of mental disorders, their assessment, treatment plans, referrals for services, prognosis, related research in psychotherapy and prevention. The legal, ethical, and cultural issues related to psychopathology, behavior of mental health professionals and society will be deliberated. Students will be prepared to engage in treatment planning through awareness and understanding of the most modern and accepted treatments for each major category of mental illness. Upon successful completion of the course, students will also be prepared to gather and analyze relevant information, make accurate diagnoses based upon that information, assess positive and negative factors affecting treatment decisions, develop an appropriate and contemporary treatment plan and present it in a form consistent with current practice in the mental health professions. Finally, students will be prepared for diagnosis and treatment planning activities appropriate to a variety of clinical settings.