PSY3030 Abnormal Behaviour

PSY	3030	86259	1, 2009	ONC	Abnormal Behaviour	1.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOSCI
Academic org:	FOS005
Student contribution band:	1
ASCED code:	090701

Staffing
Other requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Texts
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Gavin Beccaria
Moderator: Andrea Lamont-Mills

OTHER REQUISITES

Recommended pre-requisite: PSY2020

RATIONALE

Abnormal behaviour is a major focus of theory, research, and practice in psychology. As a more specialised third level course, the content elaborates on concepts introduced in introductory courses and seeks to provide a foundation to later study of clinical and counselling theory and development of skills of intervention.

SYNOPSIS

The course involves an elaboration of the main concepts and issues regarding abnormal behaviours and mental illness. Major questions addressed include: (1) what is mental illness? (2) what types of maladaptive behaviours and psychological disorders are there? (3) how are they classified? (4) what are the proposed aetiologies of these disorders and with what characteristics are they correlated? (5) what general modes are available to intervene in disorders? Students will require access to e-mail and internet access to USQConnect for this course.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.: demonstrate a critical awareness of past and current Western notions of behavioural abnormality and mental illness (Case Reports, Exam);
2.: demonstrate an understanding of models of aetiology, assessment, and diagnosis in broad areas of adult disorders (Case Reports, Assignment, Exam);
3.: demonstrate an understanding of the types, processes, and issues related to collecting data relevant to assessment and treatment of behaviour disorders (Assignment, Exam);
4.: demonstrate an understanding of the counselling/clinical interview process through observation of clinical interviews and participation in mock counselling sessions or clinical related research (Case Reports, Research/Counselling Participation).

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Note: Topics below are rough guide to relative emphases only. History and Concepts of Mental Illness. 1.1. Current Western understanding of behaviour disorders will be traced from pre-Greek times to more modern critiques of psychiatry and clinical psychology by writers such as Laing and Szasz	5.00
2.	Models, Assessment, Research of Mental Illness 2.1. Various causal models of behaviour disorders and modes of assessment and research which logically follow from them, will be reviewed.	10.00
3.	Stress and Anxiety 3.1. Concepts of stress and anxiety will be discussed along with manifestations, diagnosis, and approaches to intervention in a variety of anxiety disorders.	15.00
4.	Somatoform, Conversion Dissociative and Eating Disorders 4.1. Eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa behaviour and their diagnoses and presumed aetiology will also be discussed.	10.00
5.	Mood Disorders 5.1. Models of depression and contemporary issues in classification and intervention in depression and to lesser extent, mania, will be reviewed.	15.00
6.	Schizophrenia 6.1. Classification, models, and management of a range of thought disorders will be reviewed.	15.00
7.	Substance Dependence 7.1. Societal, family, and individual factors relating to substance dependence plus modes of intervention will be discussed.	10.00
8.	Sexual Disorders 8.1. Manifestations and classification of, and approaches to intervention in, a variety of paraphilias, gender related disorders and sexual dysfunctions will be reviewed.	5.00
9.	Personality Disorders 9.1. A range of issues relating to classification and models of various personality disorders will be discussed with particular reference to the antisocial personality.	10.00
10.	Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues	5.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Study guide to accompany abnormal psychology: an integrative approach, 5th edn, Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, CA.

Barlow, D H & Durand, M V 2009, Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach with CD-DSM IV, 5th edn, Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, CA.

Introductory Book 2009, Course PSY3030 Abnormal Behaviour, USQ Distance Education Centre, Toowoomba.

Selected Readings 2009, Course PSY3030 Abnormal Behaviour, USQ Distance Education Centre, Toowoomba.

Study Book 2009, Course PSY3030 Abnormal Behaviour, USQ Distance Education Centre, Toowoomba.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

American Journal of Psychiatry,

Journal of Abnormal Psychology,

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,

American Psychiatric Association 2000, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR (Text revision), American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC.
(Available online to USQ students on http://www.psychiatryonline.com/resourseTOC.aspx?resourceID=1)

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Directed Study	70.00
Examinations	2.00
Lectures	13.00
Private Study	33.00
Report Writing	24.00
Tutorials	26.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
CASE REPORT-MENTAL STATUS EXAM	15.00	15.00	30 Mar 2009
CASE REPORT - FULL	30.00	30.00	25 May 2009
5HR MOCK COUNSELLING/RESEARCH	5.00	5.00	08 Jun 2009	(see note 1)
2 HOUR M/C RESTRICTED EXAM	100.00	50.00	END S1	(see note 2)

NOTES

1.: Students who participate in mock counselling are to provide a 1 page (maximum) summary on their reflections on the experience. Students who participate in clinical psychology research are also expected to provide a 1 page (maximum) summary of the experience. Students who do not have access to the internet need to contact the course examiner for an alternative item.
2.: The examination will consist of 100 questions. Examination dates will be available during the Semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published. It is the student's responsibility to make themselves aware of the time, date, and venue of the examination and to attend accordingly.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded.. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the available weighted marks for the summative assessment items.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
Candidates are allowed access only to specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination). Students whose first language is not English, may, take an appropriate unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

The due date for assessment is the date by which a student must dispatch or deliver an assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the dispatch date, if requested by the Examiner. Extensions are not granted, in all but the most unusual circumstances, and any application for extension should be submitted, with appropriate documentary evidence, with the late assignment. Typically, no approval of an extension is granted in advance of the late assignment being submitted. Assignments submitted after the Due Date, for which no extension is granted, will attract a penalty of 10% for each day late.

10.

Students are advised to use a 2B, or softer pencil, to indicate answers on the (red) computer-marked answer sheet, and a soft white eraser to make any changes on the red (computer-marked) answer sheet. Students are advised to CLEARLY mark their answers on BOTH the (red) computer-marked answer sheet AND the (blue) examination BOOKLET.

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.