Abnormal Psychology-PSYC 3303-100

MWF 9:15am-12:00pm MUEN E214

Instructor: Samantha Strife, Ph.D. Email: samantha.strife@colorado.edu Office hours: MW 8:45-9:15am and by appointment Office location: Muenzinger D-356A

Text: Comer, Ronald. (2013). Abnormal Psychology-DSM 5 update, 8th edition.

Please note : Aside from actually meeting with me in person, email is the easiest and most reliable way to contact me. If you ask a question in your email and do not receive a response from me promptly, please check the sending address, and resend the email.

Objectives: By the end of the course, you should be able to:

1. Describe the main symptoms associated with major mental health diagnoses and use the DSM diagnostic system

2. Compare and contrast presenting symptoms to make a differential diagnosis 3. Explain each disorder from an integrative perspective, including biological, behavioral,

cognitive, and socio-cultural factors involved in the development of the disorder 4. Provide an overview of treatments currently in use for each disorder and demonstrate an

understanding of empirically supported interventions. 5. Discuss cultural contexts (and potential biases) of diagnostic criteria, etiology, and treatment

of various disorders 6. Think critically about our current diagnostic system and identify the gaps in our

understanding of mental health problems

Tests: There will be two non-cumulative tests for this course, which will cover reading and lecture material (each worth 100 points). No make-up tests will be administered without documentation of a serious illness, death in the family, or other event of similar magnitude that precludes your attendance at a scheduled test.

Case Studies: You will be given 2 case studies to complete throughout the semester (see syllabus for

specific dates). Each case study will be posted on the course website (desire to learn) and you will submit your responses to the online dropbox. No late submissions will be accepted. Each case study is worth 40 points.

Attendance clicker Points: Part of your grade will include participation points earned through responding to clicker

questions. It is your responsibility to make sure that your clicker is working correctly. No make-up opportunities will be given. Worth 20 points

1

Your grade will be determined out of a total of 500 points.

2 exams 200 points 2 case studies 80 points Clicker questions 20 points

Total 300 points

Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

A = 100-94% A- = 93-90% B+ = 89-87% В = 86-84% В- = 83-80% C+ = 79-77% С = 76-74% С- = 73-70% D+ = 69-67% D = 66-64% D- = 63-60%

Course Outline and Schedule

Week 1 : June 1 Readings: Monday Past and present Chapter 1

Models of abnormality Chapter 3 Wednesday Assessment and Diagnosis Chapter 4 Friday Anxiety Disorders Chapter 5

Week 2: June 8 Readings: Monday PTSD Chapter 6 Wednesday Somatic and Dissociative disorders Chapter 7

1s t

Case study due Friday Mood Disorders Chapter 8,9

Week 3: June 15 Readings: Monday (6/15) 1

s t

EXAM Eating Disorder Chapter 11

Wednesday Substance Disorders Chapter 12 Friday NO CLASS

Week 4: June 22 Readings: Monday Schizophrenia Chapter 14 Wednesday Personality Disorder Chapter 16 Friday Developmental Disorder Chapter 17

2n d

case study due

Week 5: June 29 Readings: Monday Special topics/Catch up/review Wednesday (7/1) 2

n d

EXAM

IMPORTANT UNIVERSITY POLICIES

DISABILITIES: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS Campus policy regarding religious observances states that faculty must make reasonable accommodation for them and in so doing, be careful not to inhibit or penalize those students who are exercising their rights to religious observance. Faculty should be aware that a given religious holiday may be observed with very different levels of attentiveness by different members of the same religious group and thus may require careful consideration to the particulars of each individual case. See http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac relig.html

A comprehensive calendar of the religious holidays most commonly observed by CU-Boulder students is at http ://www. interfaithcalendar.org/

APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR Faculty and students should be aware of the campus "Classroom Behavior" policy at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html as well as faculty rights and responsibilities listed at http : //www .colorado. edu/F acuity Staff/faculty-booklet. html#Part 1 These documents describe examples of unacceptable classroom behavior and provide information on how to handle such circumstances should they arise.

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http : //www .colorado. edu/studentaffairs/j udicial affairs/code. html#student code

DISCRIMINATION AND HARRASSMENT The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and

the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http : //www .colorado. edu/ odh

HONOR CODE All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http : //www .colorado. edu/policies/honor. html and at http : //www .colorado. edu/ac ademics/honorcode/