Psychology 314: Course Procedures and Information

• Psychopathology 314 is an introduction to the course taught by Dr. Phillipa Haine.
• Phillipa can be contacted by email at [email protected]

Psych 314 Class Representative

• Students are invited to write a paragraph answering the question, "Why do you think you will be the best class representative?" and submit it to the course administrator, [email protected]
• Submissions are due by Thursday the 13th of February at 23:59.
• All answers will be uploaded to MS Forms, and the class will vote for their class representative via a link on Sunlearn.
• The person with the most votes will be announced as class representative and contacted by the course administrator.

Interpreting Services

• The module offers interpreting into Afrikaans, accessible via a QR code provided.

Contact Information

• Christine Joubert can be contacted on 082 783 9734 or [email protected]
• Christine usually interprets Psychology, Sociology, Ancient Cultures, and other modules, mainly in Arts and Social Sciences.

Prescribed Textbook

• The books "Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach" by D.H. Barlow, V.M. Durand, L. du Plessis, and C. Visser, also "Psychopathology, an integrative approach to mental disorders" SECOND EDITION by DAVID H BARLOW , V.MARK DURAND, STEFAN G HOFMANN, LARISE M. DU PLESSIS, CONRAD VISSER

Expectations

• Lecture material is made available every week day and is on Sunlearn.
• Lectures are face to face Monday to Thursday in the Krotoa Building.
• Friday Lectures will be held online via MS Teams, with the link available on Sunlearn.
• Consultation hours are Monday to Friday between 10h00 and 12h00 at the Psychology Department office in Room 2018.
• Students should read the course outline carefully, ask questions about course information or content, use formative assessments on Sunlearn, and allocate time each week to engage with prescribed readings and lecture material.

Lecture Times & Venues:

• Group 1:
  • Monday 12:00 = Krotoa_3001
  • Tuesday 12:00 = Krotoa_3001
  • Wednesday 08:00 = Krotoa_3001
  • Friday 09:00 = MS Teams
• Group 2:
  • Monday 09:00 = Krotoa_1001
  • Wednesday 12:00 = Krotoa_1001
  • Thursday 08:00 = Krotoa_1001
  • Friday 16:00 = MS Teams
• MS Teams links are available on SUNLearn

Lecture Schedule Overview:

• Week 1 is from 10 February to 16 February.
  • Topic: Introduction to Psychopathology and mood disorders.
  • Textbook Chapter: 7.
  • Prescribed Readings: SUNLearn 'learning material: readings' folder.
• Week 2 is from 17 February to 23 February.
  • Topic: Anxiety disorders (Phobias).
  • Textbook Chapter: 5.
  • Prescribed Readings: SUNLearn 'learning material: readings' folder.
• Week 3 is from 24 February to 02 March.
  • Topic: Obsessive and Compulsive and Related disorders.
  • Textbook Chapter: 5.
  • Prescribed Readings: SUNLearn 'learning material: readings' folder.
• Week 4 is from 03 March to 09 March.
  • Topic: Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders.
  • Textbook Chapter: 5.
  • Prescribed Readings: SUNLearn 'learning material: readings' folder.
• Week 5 is from 10 March to 16 March.
  • Topic: Substance-Related and Eating Disorders.
  • Textbook Chapters: 8 and 11.
  • Prescribed Readings: SUNLearn 'learning material: readings' folder.
• Week 6 is from 17 March to 23 March.
  • Topic: Schizophrenia (also substance-induced schizophrenia).
  • Textbook Chapter: 13.
  • Prescribed Readings: SUNLearn 'learning material: readings' folder.
• Week 7 is from 24 March to 30 March includes no lectures for Exam Revision.

General Outcomes

• The ability to read chapters and journal articles, and to reflect on readings.
• Ability to express yourself in written work.
• Apply theory to critically engage with case studies of psychopathology.
• Ability to be a critical consumer of psychological interventions, knowing what is helpful for oneself and/or for others.

Assessments

• Predicate Test: 13 March 2025.
• Examinations:
  • 1st Opportunity: 24 May 2025.
  • 2nd Opportunity: 18 June 2025.
• Quizzes: Weekly, open Mondays at 08:00 and close Sundays at 23:59.
• Intellectual Journals: Weekly, open Mondays at 08:00 and close Sundays at 23:59.

Final Marks

• The class mark (CM) comprises of the predicate test and online assessments.
• Online exercises (quizzes) and intellectual journals make up 15% of the CM.
• The predicate (or supplementary) test is 85% of the CM.
• CM calculation = P + (T × 0.85).
  • P = participation mark.
  • T = predicate (supplementary) test mark.
• The final mark (FM) includes the class mark (CM) and examination results (E).
• Final mark calculation: FM = (CM × 0.40) + (E × 0.60).

Chapter 1 - What is Psychopathology?

• Psychopathology is defined as the scientific study of psychological dysfunction.
• Psych is mind or soul, while pathology is the study of suffering or illness.

Psychological Disorder - The 4 D's:

• Deviant = from social norms.
• Distress = to individual or others.
• Dysfunction = in social, occupational, or general life functioning.
• Danger = to self or others.

Critical Thinking Task - Deviation from Social Norms

• Deviance = The behavior goes against cultural or societal expectations.
• Distress = The person experiences significant distress due to their behavior.
• Dysfunction = The behavior interferes with daily life, work, or relationships..
• Danger to Self or Others = The behavior poses a risk of harm.

Discussion and Reflection

• Cultural, social, and historical contexts influence what is considered normal or abnormal.
• Is important to consider multiple criteria rather than relying on just one.
• Distress is normal in some situations.

Distress and Culture

• Dysfunctional distress = When a person is much more distressed than others would usually be.
• Impairment = Must be pervasive or significant.
• Mental disorders are often exaggerations of normal processes like extreme shyness or sadness.
• Culture = Considers normalcy relative to the behavior of others in the same cultural context.

Definition of a Psychological Disorder

• Behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunctions that are unexpected in their cultural context. These can be associated with present distress or impairment in functioning, or increased risk of suffering, death, pain, or impairment.

Study of Abnormal Psychology

• Predict, explain, diagnose, identify, and treat abnormal occurrences, cognitions & behaviours.
• Describe prevalence and incidence of disorders.
• Mental health / mental health challenge VS mental illness.
• Client vs Patient.

Epidemiology

• Incidence is the rate of new cases of a disorder during a specific period.
• Prevalence is the total number of cases in a population at a given time.

Clinical Description

• Onset of Disorders: Includes acute versus insidious onset.
• Course of Disorders: Encompasses episodic, time-limited, or chronic patterns.
• Prognosis: Looks at whether it is good versus guarded.
• Age of Onset: Can shape presentation of the disorder.

Causation

• Aetiology/Causation: The factors contributing to the development of psychopathology.
• Treatment Development: How can alleviate psychological problems.
• Consideration for various treatments; pharmacological, psychosocial or a combination of different treatments.
• Outcome, Prognosis.

Diagnosis

• Diagnoses are made using thorough clinical interviews, and symptom assessments, adhering to the DSM-5 TR's specific diagnostic criteria to evaluate;
  • Number of symptoms present.
  • Duration of symptoms.
  • Severity and impact on daily life.
  • Rule out other causes:
    • Medical conditions, substance use, differential diagnosis.
• Mental health symptoms can manifest differently across various cultural backgrounds, DSM-5 TR emphasizes considering.

Tools

• Use of psychometric tool, clinicians often use standardized assessments to support their clinical impressions.
  • Examples: BDI-II (Measures depression); BAI (Measures anxiety).

Historical Development of Psychopathology

• Ancient & Supernatural Explanations: Mental illness attributed to demonic possession, spirits, or divine punishment. Trephination (drilling holes in the skull) was used to release what they thought were "evil spirits".
• Greek & Roman Era (Hippocrates): Hippocrates (460-370 BCE) believed mental illness was caused by an imbalance in bodily humors like blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
• Middle Ages (5th-15th Century): saw a return to supernatural explanations with witchcraft, exorcisms, and religious healing. Mentally ill were often confined in asylums with poor conditions.

Enlightenment era

• Renaissance & Enlightenment (15th-18th Century): featured a humanitarian shift with a focus on compassionate care.
• Moral treatment was encouraged by people like Philippe Pinel in France and Dorothea Dix.

19th- 20th Century

• 19th Century: saw the emergence of medical model thinking.
  • Kraepelin (1856-1926) made the first systematic classification of mental disorders, precursor to the DSM classification system used today.
  • Freud (1856-1939)Developed psychoanalysis, introduced the unconscious mind and the impact that childhood experiences have on mental health.
• 20th Century: There were Biological & Psychological Advances;
  • Mental health was viewed as leaned behaviour. From the work of Behaviourism (Watson, Skinner).
  • Focus on thought patterns in mental disorders. Cognitive Revolution (Beck, Ellis).
  • Antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anxiolytics were introduced through Pharmacology developments.
• Modern Era: Biopsychosocial & Neurobiological Models;
  • DSM-5-TR (2013, updated 2022): Standardised classification of mental disorders.
  • Integration of genetics, neuroscience, and psychotherapy..
  • A holistic approach has also been acknowledged; to look at biological, psychological, and social factors in diagnosis and treatment.