Learning objectives
This module aims to:
1. provide significant understanding of the potential interplay between biological, psychological, social and environmental factors in explaining abnormal behaviour;
2. provide knowledge to critically distinguish normal from abnormal behaviour;
3. provide knowledge to classify psychological symptoms and disorders;
4. stimulate students to reflect on the normalcy of their own daily experience and improve their self-knowledge.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
During the lectures the following topics will be discussed:
Definition of abnormal vs. normal behaviour. Biological and psychological models of abnormal behavior. Neuroscientific methods for the investigation of the neural activity in mental disorders. Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, panic attack, and social phobia). Mood disorders (unipolar depressive disorders and bipolar disorders). Dissociative Disorders. Schizophrenia. Eating Disorders (bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder). Personality Disorders (cluster A: paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders; cluster B: antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders; cluster C: avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ADHD and autism spectrum disorders). Currently available biological and psychosocial treatments for each disorder.
Full programme
In this module I will provide students with an integrative overview of the field of abnormal psychology, emphasizing the neuroscientific aspects. I will first familiarize them with the multiple causes of psychopathology as viewed from the perspective of different disciplines, such as genetics, neuroscience, behavioural and social sciences. Then, I will describe clinical characteristics, statistics, aetiology, diagnostic criteria and treatment of key psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety, panic attack, depression, schizophrenia, anorexia, bulimia, ADHD, autism). The essential features of each disorder will be illustrated presenting a clinical case. Diagnostic changes that have occurred in the DSM-5 revision will be taken into account.
Bibliography
David H. Barlow, V. Mark Durand Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach (7th Edition). Cengage Learning.
Teaching methods
The order of the presentation of the topics will not necessarily follow the order of the book chapters. In-class activities will include: a) in-depth analysis of specific topics on students’ demand; b) discussion of clinical cases; c) reading and critical discussion of scientific papers and clinical cases; d) multiple choice tests; e) group works.
Assessment methods and criteria
Essay.
Other information
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