Psychopathology

Course Description

Description
Psychopathology focuses on the study of the abnormal or pathological behavior, both in descriptive and explicative dimensions as well as in the etiology. Regarding the professional profile of the student in the field of health psychology as well as in other fields of psychological expertise, the understanding of the different psychopathological disorders is an exceptionally important knowledge for the clinical practice. The field of psychological intervention and evaluation in mental health is linked with the knowledge of the different clinical entities in psychopathology. Also, psychopathology is linked to other subjects of the psychological studies as basic psychological processes, biology, sociology and physiology.

Contents
U1: GENERAL CONTEXT AND HISTORY OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:
History of psychopathology
Concepts and models in psychopathology
Psychosocial Model
Clinical network in mental health

U2: PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES:
Psychopathology of perception, attention and imagination
Psychopathology of memory
Psychopathology of thought
Psychopathology of language

U3: PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED TO BIOLOGICAL NEEDS AND DRUG ADDICTION:
Alcoholism
Drug addiction
Pathological gambling
Eating disorders

U4: STRESS, ANXIETY AND AFECTIVE DISORDERS:
Stress
Clinical syndromes related to anxiety
Clinical aspects of affective disorders

U5: PSYCHOSIS AND PERSONALITY DISORDERS:
Schizophrenia: clinical aspects
Personality disorders

U6: DEVELOPMENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY:
Children and their social and family context
Psychopathological disorders in childhood
Psychopathological disorders in adolescence
Psychopathological disorders in aging

Methodology
The subject will be developed through the following strategies:
1. Presentation at the classroom of theoretical concepts according to the subject program using audiovisual support and encouraging group discussion.
2. Presentation of clinical cases by the teacher
3. Work in small groups at the classroom: identification of psychopathological symptoms in the several diagnostic categories

Assessment
The achievement of the subject competences will be evaluated through the following procedures:
1. Continuous evaluation based on practical exercises of clinical cases discussion proposed by the teacher at the classroom. Exercises will be developed both in group and individually.
2. Participation in classroom activities will contribute to the final grades.