PG647
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
PG647
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Purpose: Psychopathology is a multidisciplinary subject-matter devoted to classifying
and explaining conduct that, in lay terms, reflects "mental illness." Obviously
the topic is much too large for anyone to learn or remember. Furthermore, the topic
is ever-changing; rendering soon obsolete much of the knowledge acquired at any time.
Hence, my purpose in this class is to enable you to approach the subject-matter intelligently;
that is, to study relevant materials systematically and carefully, and think about
those materials intelligently and critically. In brief, I aspire to helping you think
about varieties of "mental illness" more intelligently 10 weeks from now
than you do today. To that end there are only four units of study; only four so that
each can be explored soemwhat more than cursorily. The four units of study are all
geared to facilitating systematic and careful study plus critical thought.
Assigned Readings: There is a numbered array of Assigned Readings (ARs) below along
with the times they are assigned. We will figure out during the first class the practical
logistics of copying, etc. ARs are assigned to be studied by everyone.
Presenter's Readings: There also is a numbered array of Presenter's Readings (PRs)
below, along with the times they're assigned. PRs are assigned only to the person
presenting them. However, everyone is expected to understand clearly the basic thrust
and major points of each PR. Therefore, you might want to acquire and read them and/or
"force" the presenter to do a good, well-organized job.
Term Paper: AR #1 is the following paper: White, P. (1990). Ideas about causation
in philosophy and psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 3 - 18. The paper is about
various ways philosophers have approached the problem of assigning causal relations
between events. For your term paper I want you to review a research literature of
5 papers on the etiology of some adult syndrome or disorder not dealt with in class.
In the paper I want you to articulate
carefully and clearly how the methods of each piece of research map onto the concepts
of causality discussed in White's paper. (You will need to provide sufficiently clear
narrative detail about the research methods to allow me to follow your arguments
without consulting your original 5 papers.) I also want you to provide narrative
about how persuasive your reviewed literature is in spelling out the cause(s) of
the problem chosen, i.e. characterize the scientific nature and quality of the work.
AR #6 (below) should help here.
Organization etc.: As noted there are four Units. The first will prepare you to deal
with the others. Much of the time I'll handle in-class work. Some of the time students
will do so, either by lecturing about a PR or leading a discussion of an AR.
Grades: Grades will be based on weighted values: 50% from mean exam scores, 20% from
one Presentation/Discussion, and 30% from the term paper. Borderline values will
be influenced by frequency/cogency of oral participation during class discussions.
A = 90% and above, B = 75 - 89.99%, C = 65 - 74.99%, F = 64.99% and below.
UNIT #1 Metatheory, Methodology, Classification
To me this is the most important unit; it prepares you for the others and, I trust,
for other scholarly and professional pursuits. It will seem abstruse at first, but
persist ... The plan below is flexible.
Activities: (Dates will vary by Quarters)
Mar. 30 Orientation, logistics, copying, etc.
April 1 I will lecture on the history of psychopathology. Prepare by studying
AR #2 : Carson, R. C. et al., Causal factors and viewpoints in abnormal psychology.
Ch. 3 in R. C. Carson, et al., Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life 10th Ed. New York:
Harper- Collins, pp 63 - 115.
April 6 I will lecture on the rationo-empirical foundations of science, modes
of theory construction, and theoretical constructs. Prepare by studying: AR #3 and
AR #4: Turner, M. B. (1967). The contents of science (pp. 169 - 179) and The language
of psychology (pp. 189 - 209) in Philosophy and The Science of Behavior, New York:
Appleton-Centruy-Crofts.
April 8 I will continue with the matters above and lecture on the major theoretical
perspectives that have influenced psychopathology. Prepare by continuing to study
the above items.
April 13 I will lecture and/or lead a discussion on the topic of classification.
Prepare by studying AR #5: Blashfield, R. K. (in press). Diagnostic models and systems.
In M. Hersen & A. S. Bellack (Eds.). Comprehensive Clinical Psychology. Oxford:
Elsevier Science, Ltd.
April 15 I will lead a discussion of research methods, followed by a review/discussion
of Unit #1. Prepare by studying AR #6: McGlynn, F. D. (1994). Research methods in
psychopathology. In V. B. Van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.). Advanced Abnormal Psychology.
New York: Plenum.
April 20 There will be an in-class 2-hr. examination on the ARs and in-class
materials. Remember, you're not responsible for AR #1 here.
UNIT #2 Schizophrenia
Here we study schizophrenia. In general we are concerned with schizophrenia as a
concept; we deal with the history of the concept, the logical status typical for
use of the concept, and the scientific qualities of research reports based on the
concept. Needless to say, there is a HUGE literature about schizophrenia ; our materials
are extremely limited.
Activities : (Blanks indicate individual student assignments.)
April 22 8:00 - 9:00 I will lecture about some of the history of schizophrenia.
9:00 - 10:00 _______________ will lead a discussion of AR # 7: Andreason, N. C. (1991).
Schizophrenia: The characteristic symptoms. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 17, 27-49.
April 27 8:00 - 9:00 ____________ will lead a discussion of AR #8: Chua, S.
E. and McKenna, P. J. (1995). Schizophrenia - a brain disease? British Journal of
Psychiatry, 166, 563 - 582.
9:00 - 9:30 _____________ will present PR #1: McGuffin, P. et al. (1994). The strength
of the genetic effect. British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 593 - 599.
9:30 - 10:00 ___________ will lead a discussion of PR #2: Torrey, E. F. (1992). Are
we overestimating the genetic contribution to schizophrenia? Schizophrenia Bulletin,
18, 159 - 170.
April 29 8:00 - 9:00 ______________ will lead a discussion of AR # 9: Spitzer,
M. (1997). A cognitive neuroscience view of schizophrenic thought disorder. Schizophrenia
Bulletin, 23, 29-50.
9:00 - 9:40 _____________ will present PR #3: McGrath, J. (1991). Ordering thoughts
on thought disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 307 -316.
9:40 - 10:00 _____________ will present PR #4: Oppenheimer, H. Schizophrenic dementia.
In H. Oppenheimer, Clinical Psychiatry: Issues and challenges. New York: Harper &
Row, pp. 227 - 247.
May 4 8:00 - 8:30 _____________ will present PR # 5: Peralta, V. et al. (1997).
The Kahlbaum syndrome: A study of its clinical validity, nosological status, and
relationship with schizophrenia and mood disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 38,
61 - 67.
8:30 - 9:00 _____________ will present PR #6: Wright, P. et al. (1996). Autoimmune
diseases in the pedigrees of schizophrenic and control subjects. Schizophrenia Research,
20, 261 - 267.
9:00 - 10:00 I will do a wrap-up lecture/discussion about schizophrenia. The assignment
is AR #10: Boyle, M. (1990). Is schizophrenia what it was? A re-analysis of Kraepelin's
and Bleuler's populations. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences. 26,
323 - 333.
May 6 There will be a 2-hr examination on Unit #2.
UNIT 3# Dissociative Identity Disorder
Multiple personality disorder is a hot topic these days; a controversial diagnosis
that is related to other controversial matters such as recovered traumatic memories.
It is also complex. So...
May 11 8:00 - 9:00 I will lecture on the concept of dissociation and a continuum
of dissociative phenomena.
9:00 - 10:00 I will show a videotape that includes several MPD cases.
May 13 8:00 - 9:00 ____________ will lead a discussion of AR #11: Ross, C.
(1989). Clinical features (of MPD). In C. Ross Multiple personality disorder: Diagnosis,
clinical features and treatment. New York: Wiley, pp. 86 - 130.
9:00 - 9:30 ____________ will present PR #7: Ross, C. (above) pp. 9 - 36 Dissociation
from antiquity to Freud.
9:30 - 10:00 ______________ will present PR #8: Ross, C. (above) pp. 37 - 56 Dissociation
from Freud to the present.
May 18 8:00 - 8:30 _____________ will present PR #9:
Fink, D., & Golinkoff, M. (1990). Multiple personality disorder, borderline personality
disorder, and schizophrenia: A comparative study of clinical features. Dissociation,
3, 127 - 134.
8:30 - 10:00 I will lecture on MPD and associated intellectual errors as well as
review a case I know well.
TERM PAPERS ARE DUE
A TAKE HOME TEST ON UNIT #3 WILL BE HANDED OUT
Unit #4 Panic Disorder/Agoraphobia
Over 2000 articles have been published about panic disorder and agoraphobia in the
last 10 years. It is a narrow but large topic and raises some interesting questions.
So...
May 20 8:00 - 9:00 I will lecture on the concept of anxiety and the classification
of anxiety disorders.
9:00 - 10:00 ________________ will lead a discussion of AR # 12: McNally, R. J. (1990).
Psychological approaches to panic disorder: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 108,
403 - 419.
May 27 8:00 - 9:00 ______________ will present PR #10: Salkovskis, P. &
Clark, D. (1993). Panic disorder and hypochondriasis. Advances in Behaviour Research
and Therapy, 15, 23 - 48.
9:00 - 10:00 _______________ will present PR #11: Ehlers, A. (1993). Interoception
and panic disorder. Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 15, 3 - 21.
TAKE HOME TESTS ON UNIT #3 ARE RETURNED
June 1 8:00 - 9:00 _____________ will present PR #12: Margraf, J. (1993).
Hyperventilation and panic disorder: A psychophysiological connection. Advances in
Behaviour Research and Therapy, 15, 49 - 74.
9:00 - 10:00 I will offer a few comments about panic and agoraphobia, then I will
hand out and discuss TAKE HOME QUESTIONS THAT WILL APPEAR ON AN IN-CLASS TEST ON
JUNE 3.
June 3 In-class examination on Unit #4 questions (above).
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