Instructor: Bob Hill, Ph.D.
Office: 213 Smith Wright; email: [email protected] ph: 262 2723
Office hours: Tues 1:30-3:30, W 9-12, 1:30-4:30, Th 1:30 - 3:30 , Mon & Fri by appt.

Texts: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - IV-TR (2000). Washington DC: APA.
Zukerman (1999) Vulnerability to Psychopathology APA: Wash. DC
And chapters on reserve in library in electronic and paper formats from: 

Millon (1999). Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology. NY: Oxford Un. Press
Hersen & Van Hasselt (2001). Advanced Abnormal Psychology (2^nd Ed.). NY: Plenum 
Bellack & Hersen (1994) Psychopathology in Adulthood. Allyn & Bacon
Lilienfeeld (1995) Seeing Both Sides. Brooks Cole.

Goals: The course is an opportunity for acquaintance with psychopathology, and issues relating to understanding the diagnosis and course of most common mental disorders. General issues concerning the DSM classification, assessment, and causes of disorders will be considered, as well as consideration of specific conditions including: anxiety disorders, affective disorders, schizophrenia, somatoform and dissociative disorders, personality disorders and sexual disorders.

Requirements:
Attend, keep up with readings, do homework, question what is not clear, and participate in class discussions. More than 2 unexcused absences results in the loss of .3 letter grade/class.

Three Exams: Exams will cover material from the texts, any supplemental readings and classroom prior to the date of the exam. Exams will be in part cumulative for disorders throughout the term. Exam content will include an objective assessment of material (short answer) as well as diagnostic questions.

Paper or Web Page: Choose a disorder of interest and typically include the following headings: Description (brief), Diagnostic Issues, Epidemiology, Clinical Course, and Etiology. Therapeutic interventions are typically not a focus for this paper. Use headings (and perhaps subheadings) to organize your paper. Use your instructor to obtain recommendations about your topic choice, focus of paper and perhaps sources. Use current literature, rely on scientific journals over books, including at least 2 journal articles within the last 6 years, reference your sources using APA style. Length: approx. 12p, double spaced, pages numbered, with your name on last page only. 

Web Page: In lieu of a paper, choose a disorder in consultation with your instructor, and create a web resource providing information and relevant links on: Description, Diagnostic Issues, Epidemiology, Clinical Course, and Etiology of disorder. The goal of this project will be to create a quality web based source of information to inform students about a particular disorder.  You do not need to be an expert to author an webpage. Consider downloading Netscape 7.1 (from Netscape.com) to use Composer (free). Here is the URL for free tutorial for using Composer http://facweb.furman.edu/~pecoy/mfl195/composer/index.htm 
    Web modules must be of good quality and perform without Windows compatible browser errors to be published on instructors web site. Review your web site with instructor before due date (for ideas and debugging). For examples of previous web pages authored by graduate students on disorders see: http://www.appstate.edu/~hillrw/ 
To download Netscape 7.1 with Composer see the bottom of this ICS page: http://www.ics.appstate.edu/browsers.html

Roleplay. Each class member will prepare a role play of a disorder to provide a diagnostic exercise for the class. The exercise will involve role-playing an individual with a disorder for an in-class interview, Disorders and roles will be selected in consultation with the instructor (see guidelines below).

Grading: Paper or Web Project 25%, Exams 75%

Exam 1 

Factitious Disorder                                                                                                 DSM
Somatoform Disorders                                                                                           DSM
Dissociative Disorders                                                                                            DSM
Is MPD a Distinct Syndrome?                                                                             Seeing Both Sides Ch 8
Mood Disorders                                                                                                    DSM 
Mood Disorders                                                                                                    Zukerman (Chapter 4) 
Should ECT be Used to Treat Depression?                                                        Seeing Both Sides Ch 16
Schizophrenia                                                                                                        DSM
Zukerman (see chapter 7)

Exam 2 

Personality Disorders                                                                                             DSM, & (Clarkin in Bellack Ch 14)
Is BPD a Diagnosis with Validity?                                                                       Seeing Both Sides Ch 9
Antisocial Personality Disorder                                                                            Zukerman (Chapter 5)
Sexual Disorders/dysfunctions                                                                                 DSM
Eating Disorders                                                                                                     DSM 
Substance Abuse                                                                                                    DSM
Does Evidence Support the Disease Model?                                                       Seeing Both Sides Ch 7
Can Alcoholics Achieve Controlled Drinking?                                                     Seeing Both Sides Ch14
Substance Abuse and Dependence                                                                     Zukerman see Chapter 6
Mental Retardation                                                                                                 DSM
Autism                                                                                                                    DSM
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity                                                                                 DSM
ODD and Conduct Disorder                                                                                    DSM
Other Topics

Exam 3 

Paper (or Web Site) Due:  One week before last day of class.

Other readings will be assigned during semester. The syllabus and schedule will be revised at the instructors discretion.
 

Guidelines for Role Playing a Disorder

1) Consult with instructor in advance of your role play about which disorder you will portray, and the strategy for your script. Your instructor will help classmates avoid choosing the same disorder or selecting role plays that might be too easy to diagnose.

2) Consult the DSM regarding symptoms, course and any other relevant information.

3) Develop a script or life scenario for yourself as a vehicle for portraying symptoms. Decide on such details as: name, age, current life circumstance, occupation, significant social relationships, previous treatment?, first onset of symptoms, and other interesting details.

4) Decide which symptoms you experience relative to the given disorder. Your experience of them need not be too obvious, but does need to be sufficient to meet diagnostic criteria. Also, in the real world people often meet criteria for more than one diagnosis.

5) Consider adding some features to your script/role to add realistic complication to the picture. For instance, you might be schizophrenic but also married, or a cannabis abuser but also employed at $75,000/year, or you might be hypochondriacal but also a nurse.

6) If you desire you could rehearse your role with your instructor.

7) Do not disclose what disorder your will portray to any classmate so that all may enjoy the opportunity to learn from this experience.

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