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2020/2021

Adult Psychopathology

Code: 105775 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2502443 Psychology OT 4 1
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Susanna Subirą Įlvarez
Email:
Susana.Subira@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
Yes

Teachers

Gloria Marsellach Umbert
Jordi Vicens Vilanova

Prerequisites

To study the subject of Adult Psychopathology it is necessary to have up-to-date knowledge of the subject of General Psychopathology.
In this course the different psychopathological disorders of adults are described, and therefore, it is essential to master clinical semiology.
Since we work on the etiology and pathogenesis of these disorders it is also useful to have basic knowledge of psychobiology, psychogenetics and psychoendocrinology

Objectives and Contextualisation

Contextualisation
Psychopathology is the area of knowledge that studies mental disorders in humans. We know that the appearance of these has to do with the biology of the subjects, their development and their interaction with environmental factors. In the professional practice of psychology, knowledge of adult psychopathology is essential for those psychologists who want to dedicate themselves to clinical psychology or who want to opt for this specialization. On the other hand, it is also valuable knowledge in other areas of psychology such as health, educational or organizational psychology.

Objectives:  

·         Recognize the different psychopathological disorders that occur in adulthood.
·         Know the risk factors that are linked to each of the psychopathological disorders and
their underlying pathophysiological bases.
·         Know the clinical manifestations and the evolutionary course of psychopathological disorders.
·         Identify the clinical differences between the different psychopathological disorders.
·         Know the relevance of psychopathology in the field of clinical psychology.

Competences

  • Actively listen to be able to obtain and synthesise relevant information and understand the content.
  • Analyse and interpret the results of the evaluation.
  • Formulate hypotheses about the demands and needs of the recipients.
  • Recognise the determinants and risk factors for health and also the interaction between people and their physical and social environment.
  • Recognise the diversity of human behaviour and the nature of differences in it in terms of normality abnormality and pathology.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse the content of clinical interviews related case studies in the field of clinical psychology with adults.
  2. Analyse the risk factors affecting practical clinical cases.
  3. Formulate hypotheses and identify factors that determine the current problematic behaviour.
  4. Identify functional variables of acquisition and maintenance of problems in examples of clinical cases.
  5. Indicate the differential diagnosis.
  6. Make a clinical case using the assessment results.
  7. Make diagnoses of psychological disorders in practical clinical cases presented.
  8. Recognise the main etiological influences of clinical problems and disorders in adults.
  9. Recognise the psychopathology of each disorder, associated symptoms, and epidemiological trends.
  10. Summarise the essential information to facilitate the process of formulating a case and differential diagnosis.
  11. Use techniques facilitating the clinical interview.

Content

T1 Dementias and other neurocognitive disorders.
T2. Schizophrenia and other non-schizophrenic psychoses.
T3 Affective disorders: generalities. Depressions; Bipolar disorder.
T4 Anxiety disorders: generalities. Panic attacks and agoraphobia. Specific phobia and social phobia.
T5 OCD
T6. PTSD
T7 Somatoform disorders.
T8 Dissociative and factitious disorders.
T9     Personality disorders.
T10  Disorders due to substance use and alcoholism. 
T11 Sexual disorders

Methodology

.         Master classes with ICT support and debate in a large group.

·         Search for documentation on a topic, oral presentation and assessments.

·         Practical sessions. Fundamentally through the use of video recordings and case studies.

·         Introduction to the sessions in the seminars, presentation of the text, evaluation and discussion.

·         Comprehensive reading of texts.

·         Individual or group work on all the available material of classes, texts, journals, etc.

·         Realization of schemes, conceptual maps and summaries.

·         Reviews, bibliographic studies (individual or in groups) from a guide for its realization.

 

N.B. The proposed teaching and assessment methodologies may experience some modifications as a result of the restrictions on face-to-face learning imposed by the health authorities. The teaching staff will use the Moodle classroom or the usual communication channel to specify whether the different directed and assessment activities are to be carried out on site or online, as instructed by the Faculty.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
D1. Theoretical Courses 24 0.96 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 9, 8
D2. Seminar 12 0.48 1, 6, 10, 11
Type: Supervised      
S1. Tutorials 15 0.6 1, 7, 3, 4, 9
Type: Autonomous      
Study, case preparation and works 94 3.76 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 9, 8

Assessment

The evaluation of the subject will be divided into three learning evidences: Ev1, Ev2 and Ev3. 
Ev1 and Ev2 are focused on the theoretical aspects and correspond to 80% of the final grade. The Ev3 will evaluate practical aspects, representing 20% of the final grade.
·         Ev1 (Lessons 1 to 3). This will be assessed with a multiple choice test . Weighting 40% (first assessment period)
·         Ev2 (Lessons 1 to 11). Will be assessed with a multiple choice test. + Open questions. It is compulsory to pass the multiple choice part of the test in order to obtain a final grade of that exam. Weighting 40% (second assessment period)
·         Ev3 (Appraisal of practicals). This will be assessed with a written clinical case test where the students have to demonstrate their theoretical and applied knowledge (exploration psychopathological, diagnostic argumentation and prognosis). Weighting 20% (second assessment period) 
The final grade of the continuous assessment will be obtained from the weighted sum of the scores of the evidences (final grade = Ev1 + Ev2 + Ev3).
Reassessment Test
- The reassessment test is only for failed students, not to raise the grade. 
- Who is eligible for reassessment? Students with a final grade between 3.5 and 4.9 and have presented evidences with a weight that is equivalent to at least 66% of the grade (that is, that at least they have done Ev1 and Ev2). 
- The reassessment will have format test on all the content subjects of the course. 
- The reassessment grade will be weighted at 50% with the weighted final grade of the continuous assessment.
- Every student who attends either Ev1 or Ev2 will be considered as assessable and will receive a finalqualification.

No unique final synthesis test for students who enrole for the second time or more is anticipated.
 
Link to the assessment guidelines of the faculty: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/graus/graus/avaluacions-1345722525858.html
 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Ev1. Exam 40 2 0.08 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 9, 8
Ev2. Exam 40 2 0.08 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 9, 8
Ev3. Case Exam 20 1 0.04 1, 6, 10, 11

Bibliography

• Belloch, A. (2008), Manual de psicopatologia I i II. Mcgraw-hill / interamericana de España, S.A. 

• Vallejo Ruiloba, J. (2002). Introducción a la psicopatología y psiquiatría. (5ª Ed.) Barcelona: Masson.

• Spitzer, R.L., Gibbon, M., Skodol, A.E., Williams, J.B.W., First, M.B. (2016). DSM-5 Libro de casos. Barcelona: Masson.

• American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5 Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales (2016). Barcelona: Masson

 • Sadock, B.J. y Sadok, V.A. (2004) Sinopsis de Psiquiatría (9ª Ed.). Madrid: Waberly Hispanica S.A.

• Barlow D. and Nathan, P. (2010) The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Psychology. Oxford University Press

• Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry. Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry, 10th Edition (2007). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

• Caballo V.E., Salazar, IC., Carrobles J.A. (2011). Manual de psicopatología y trastornos psicológicos. Madrid: Piramide.

• Obiols, J. (Ed.) (2008). Manual de psicopatología general. Madrid: Biblioteca nueva.