Psychopathology (PSYC3102)

Course overview

The course provides an overview of the nature and history of abnormal behaviour and then examines the predominant models underlying our understanding of abnormality. Detailed descriptions and empirical research relating to a range of clinical problems form the core of the course. Topics include schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality, somatoform and dissociative disorders, and disorders of childhood. Presentations of clinical problems are supported by outside speakers or video based illustrations. There is an emphasis upon empirical evidence relating to the epidemiology, aetiology, and treatment of the clinical problems covered during the course. Students will also gain an introduction to the National Practice Standards for Mental Health Workforce.

Staff Introductions

Course Co-ordinator:ﾠ ProfessorﾠGenevieve Dingle

Genevieve is a registered clinical psychologist and Professor at the School of Psychology, University of Queensland. She completed her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of QLD and practiced in adult psychiatric hospitals, veterans' mental health, and alcohol and other drug treatment services from 1995 to 2007, when she returned to academia. She continues to contribute to the clinical psychology profession through training and supervision of provisional psychologists and clinical research. Genevieve's research interests are in non-medical approaches to social inclusion and mental health, including music, arts and nature-based programs (also known as social prescribing). Genevieve was the Director of clinical psychology programs at UQ from 2022-2024 and she has convened courses on psychotherapies, addiction science and practice, and research dissertations.

Tutorsﾠ

In general, the PSYC3102 tutors are undertaking postgraduate training in psychology, many of whom are training within the clinical psychology program at UQ.ﾠ They have some clinical experience and have undertaken training in the assessment and diagnosis of psychopathology.ﾠ The tutors have a strong interest in clinical psychology, in particular psychopathology.

Introduction to Psychopathology & Course Overviewﾠ

Psychopathology: An academic challenge. The field of abnormal behaviour is fascinating and is bound to hold your interest.ﾠ Indeed, many people who study psychopathology decide to continue their studies and training in this area.ﾠ The field of psychopathology is devoted to the study of abnormal behaviour.ﾠ This course will present empirical approaches to mental disorders of all age groups.ﾠ Given that abnormal psychological functioning appears to have been present throughout recorded history, a historical overview of the classification and treatment of mental disorders is provided first. This is followed by a broad introduction to the classification, assessment and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour.ﾠ Contemporary etiological theories of abnormal behaviour are then introduced.ﾠ After establishing these foundations of psychopathology, the remainder of the course covers all major mental disorders, each of which will be discussed with respect to: assessment, diagnosis and classification; epidemiology; course of the disorder; etiological theories presented from an integrative perspective that stresses the importance of multifactorial rather than unifactorial approaches; and treatment.ﾠ Although therapeutic interventions for specific disorders will be surveyed, they will not be a major focus of this course.

Psychopathology: A personal challenge.ﾠ As well as finding the course academically challenging and stimulating, you will probably find some of the material personally challenging.ﾠ For example, some of the guest speakers will talk candidly about their own experiences of mental disorders, which may challenge your attitudes about those who suffer mental disorders.ﾠ There is still considerable misunderstanding and ignorance in the community concerning mental disorders.ﾠ It is likely that many of you will have a family member or friend who is experiencing a mental disorder.ﾠ In addition, you have probably experienced psychological problems that are to some extent similar to the types of disorders and symptoms discussed in the course.ﾠ You may also identify with aspects of some of the cases presented in lectures and tutorials.ﾠ Hence, in addition to the academic knowledge and skills you acquire in this course, it is hoped that you will also learn more about yourself!

How to approach the course. While learning about the psychological problems that people experience, there are several important points to keep in mind throughout the course.ﾠ First, the study of abnormality by psychologists is a subset of general psychology, which means we try to approach it with a scientific attitude.ﾠ Because abnormality is often so interesting in its own right, it is easy to lose track of psychology’s goal of explaining how problems come about and devising means of preventing and treating them.

Second, there is sometimes a tendency to romanticize abnormality, to think that people with interesting problems are somehow charismatic and special.ﾠ Although we can celebrate the strengths in everyone, mental illness should be viewed in a similar way as physical illness (rather than something romantic). The guest speakers in this course who speak about their psychological disorders will also share about the suffering and pain that their problems have caused.

Third, many problems exist in degrees, which means that you should not panic simply because part of what you experience in your life is similar to the striking cases of psychological abnormality described in this course.ﾠ Indeed, sadness and worry, confusion and hurt are all part of the human condition.

Course requirements

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

2 courses from PSYC2020 or PSYC2030 or PSYC2040 or PSYC2050

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

PSYC4102

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Note that there are 3 components to this course: the 2-hour lecture, the 1-hour lived experience speakers (right after the lecture) and a 1-hour tutorial (various times across the rest of the week). Please check timetable information.

Aims and outcomes

The course aims to provide an overview of theoretical and empirical research relating to the classification, assessment, epidemiology, aetiology, and treatment of the major mental disorders.ﾠ The course also aims to train students in the application of fundamental diagnostic clinical decision making processes to case studies and to provide students with the opportunity to observe symptoms of psychopathology.ﾠ

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Case Study

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

40%

Due date

1/05/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Please submit this assignment through the turnitin link on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Reflective Summaries (select 5 across semester, each due in by 2pm of the following WEDNESDAY, one week later)

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

10% 5 reflections, each worth 2%

Due date

19/03/2025 - 28/05/2025

Students can choose 5 of the speakers to write reflections, but each is due before 2pm on the Wednesday one week later.

Learning outcomes

L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

All 5 reflective summaries must be submitted by the due dates via Turnitin and can be submitted any time in the week prior to the due dates

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

No extension available. If you miss the due date for a speaker reflection, you will have to choose different speakers for your reflection essay or forfeit the 2% for that week.

Final Exam

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

50%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Course Blackboard

• Key information on assessments will be provided on Blackboard
• Please refer to Blackboard for additional resources and announcements
• Course outline, lecture notes, and additional notices about this course, including small group tutorials, are available on Blackboard
• NOTE: material obtainable from Blackboard IS NOT a substitute for attendance at lectures and tutorials
• Check Blackboard for this course periodically for updates and notices.
• Ask questions via the discussion forum on blackboard. PSYC3102 tutors will monitor this forum.

Lecture Notes:

• Lecture notes are provided prior to the lecture on Blackboard (at the latest they will be available before 9am on the day of the lecture).
• Students are encouraged to save the slides and/or print them out, for note taking duringﾠlectures.

Additional Resources:

• Videosﾠﾠ I highly recommend a series of videos called "The World of Abnormal Psychology" (BF173.W668 Vols 1-13) which can be borrowed from the audio-visual library.
• Case Studies: “Abnormal Psychology in Context: Voices & Perspectives” by Sattler, Shabatay & Kramer (1998, Houghton Mifflin: New York) provides 44 first-person accounts and narratives written by individuals who live with a psychological disorder and by therapists, relatives, and others who have direct experience with someone suffering from a mental disorder.ﾠ Multiple copies are available in the library.
• I recommend that students who want to undertake a postgraduate degree and specialise in clinical psychologyﾠbecome familiar withﾠthe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Ed, revised (DSM-5-TR).ﾠ The DSM-5-TR is referred to throughout this course. It is expected that students will be able to critically appraise this diagnostic tool and develop a working knowledge of it.ﾠ In addition, the DSM-5-TR is used by students undertaking postgraduate degrees in clinical psychology both in their clinical placements and course work.ﾠﾠThere are multiple copies in the Social Sciences and Humanities Library and an electronic version can be accessed through the library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:

• School of Psychology Student Guidelines