ED PS 3500 - Psychopathology

This course will provide an overview of the scientific study of mental illness. About 25% of the course will cover basic concepts and definitions, historical perspectives on psychopathology, different theoretical models of psychopathology, the assessment and diagnosis of mental illness, and research methods for studying mental disorders. The remaining 75% of the course will concern the leading categories of mental disorders among adults, children, and adolescents, including the description and classification of these disorders, the leading theories and evidence explaining their origins, and some of the treatments for these disorders. Legal and ethical issues pertaining to the assessment and treatment of mental illness will be discussed, as well as the role of culture and diversity in assessment and treatment.