RELEVANT ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY
IDS 360
**Chapter assignments as well as additional reading assignments
will be provided on the first day of class.
Dramatic changes in the healthcare system over the past ten years have had a significant impact on the role of the traditional psychologist. This course is designed to address the effects these changes have had as well as how they will affect career options in the future. Additionally, this course will provide a basic overview of issues relevant to the current practice of psychology. Topics will include: a broad review of prevalent DSM – IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 4th edition) diagnoses; a basic overview of projective/neuropsychological testing and its uses as well as discussion of prominent theories and techniques in psychotherapy. Other topics such as ethnicity in therapy; the treatment of special populations (i.e.: eating disorders, trauma and sexual abuse) and application and admission to graduate school programs will also be covered.
This course is designed for those who are interested in pursuing a career in mental health and/or those interested in relevant psychological issues. The objective is to provide students with a broad understanding of psychology today. Active participation as well as a willingness to discuss field placement case related questions/issues is required.
Week 1 Intro to Class
Review of DSM/What does each Axis mean?
Weed 2 Depressive Disorders
Coping with Depressed Patients
Managing Suicidality
Week 3 Bipolar Disorder
Managing a Cycling Patient
Movie/Discussion: The Devil in Daniel Johnson
Week 4 Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorders
Week 5 Live interview with a patient
Paper 1 due
Week 6 Personality Disorders
Cluster A, B and C
Managing Challenging Patients
Week 7 Disorders Seen in Childhood
Learning Disorders and the Impact on a Developing Self-Esteem
F.A. T. City Movie/Discussion
Week 8 Disorders Seen in Childhood
Signs and Symptoms in Children
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Conduct Disorder
Week 9 Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Treating the Eating Disordered Patient
Documentary: THIN/ Review and discussion
Week 10 Individual Presentations/Psychotherapy
Week 11 Substance Abuse
Considerations when Treating a Substance Abuser
Week 12 Psychotherapy
The Rules of Engagement
Boundaries
The Life of a Clinical Psychologist
Week 13 Family Therapy
Things to Consider
Part I- Ordinary People- Review/discussion
Making Sense of the Dynamics
Week 14 Family Therapy Cont.
Part II- Ordinary People
Week 15 Important Things to Consider
PhD or PsyD/ Career Opportunities in the Mental Health Field
Final Paper Due
Possible Guest Speaker