Information Package / Course Catalogue
PSYC 208 Adult Psychopathology
MEF University
Degree Programs
Psychology
General Information For Students
Diploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Psychology
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences
Course Code PSYC 208
Course Title in English Adult Psychopathology
Course Title in Turkish Yetişkin Psikopatolojisi
Language of Instruction EN
Type of Course Lecture
Level of Course Intermediate
Semester Spring
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: 3 Recitation: Lab: Other:
Estimated Student Workload 150 hours per semester
Number of Credits 6 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology
Expected Prior Knowledge Introduction to Psychology
Co-requisites None
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective To learn a wide variety of behavior problems and the theoretical background for the etiology, to develop an appreciation for the complex and often subjective components of diagnosis and to become able to critically evaluate the theory and research associated with each class of clinical problems.
Course Description The purpose of this course is to introduce mental disorders in adults. Mainly, we will discuss psychological dysfunction (i.e., distress or impairment) in a way that is not typical, or expected, based on cultural and societal norms. We will discuss diagnostic issues in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, we will also examine a variety of mental disorders from several different theoretical and treatment perspectives. In other words, we will use an integrative approach toward the study of abnormal psychology including the interaction of biological, developmental, and social factors. One of the major goals of this course is also to promote greater awareness and knowledge of psychopathology with the hope of reduce the suffering and stigma associated with mental disorders.
Course Description in Turkish Dersin amacı, yetişkinlerde görülen psikolojik sorunları biyolojik, sosyal-kültürel ve psikolojik etmenleri gözeterek entegretif bir çerçevede incelemektir. Ders akışında, ruhsal sorunlar tartışılırken, en güncel tanı kitabı olan DSM-5’in (APA, 2013) tanı kategorilerini referans alınacaktır. Bu bağlamda, yetişkinlerde sıklıkla rastlanan psikopatolojik örüntülere bakıldığında, stres ve kaygı temelli bozukluklar, duygudurum bozuklukları, yeme bozuklukları, madde kullanım bozuklukları, kişilik bozuklukları, ve şizofreni ve psikotik bozukluklar, ders kapsamında üzerinde dıurulanacak ana modüller olarak görülebilir. Ayrıca, yetişkin psikopatolojisi hakkında temel bilgiler incelenirken, klinik bakış açısı ve toplumdaki değişimin incelenmesi ve buna ilişkin teorik çerçeve ve araştırma bulgularının tartışılması dersin önemli bir kısmını oluşturacaktır.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) discuss the distinction between what is normal and abnormal;
2) critically question the diagnosis of clinical problems;
3) relate clinical symptoms with idiosyncratic social-environmental factors;
4) understand the uniqueness of the “individual” in terms of symptom presentation;
5) understand the personal experiences of the people with mental problems;
6) know about different classification systems and to discuss them with their advantages and disadvantages;
7) relate the impact of cultural and social differences on psychopathology;
8) question the psychological theories in a critical way and propose new research ideas.
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1) Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
2) Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation.
3) Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes.
4) Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts.
5) Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline.
6) Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards.
7) Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences.
8) Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level).
9) Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.
10) Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement.
11) Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses.
12) Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning.
13) Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations.

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. H Exam
2) Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation. N
3) Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes. S Participation
4) Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts. N
5) Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline. H Exam,Participation,Presentation
6) Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards. N
7) Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences. N
8) Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level). H Exam,Participation
9) Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity. S Participation
10) Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement. S Participation
11) Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses. N
12) Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning. S Presentation
13) Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations. H Presentation
Prepared by and Date FULYA ÖZCANLI , November 2023
Course Coordinator FULYA ÖZCANLI
Semester Spring
Name of Instructor Asst. Prof. Dr. FULYA ÖZCANLI

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) Introduction: What is abnormal?
2) History of the abnormal & diagnostic issues
3) Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
4) Depressive & Bipolar Disorders
5) Anxiety Disorders Part 1
6) Anxiety Disorders Part 2 & PTSD
7) Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
8) Midterm
9) Eating Disorders
10) Dissociative and Somatic Symptom Disorders
11) Paraphilic Disorders, Sexual Dysfunctions, and Gender Dysphoria
12) Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
13) Personality Disorders
14) Review
15) Final examination period
16) Final examination period
Required/Recommended ReadingsWhitbourne, S. K. (2020). Abnormal psychology: Clinical perspectives on psychological disorders (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Teaching MethodsPrior to attending the classes, the students will be expected to do the assignments (read the chapter/article and/or watch the video). Classes will be a mixture of lecture, clinical case vignettes, videos, in-class activities and discussion.
Homework and ProjectsThere will be regular posts on Blackboard regarding the material of the upcoming week’s course. These posts can include educational or inspirational videos and articles. The students' engagement with the pre-class material will be assessed through small quizzes or open-ended questions.
Laboratory WorkNo lab work required for this course.
Computer Use
Other Activities
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 14 % 10
Quiz(zes) 1 % 5
Project 1 % 30
Midterm(s) 1 % 25
Final Examination 1 % 30
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration ozcanlifu@mef.edu.tr

Attendance: Students are required to attend classes regularly. If they are absent from class, they are still responsible for learning the material of missed lectures and turning in any assignment that might be due. Students are responsible for being prepared to actively participate in the course, in-class activities and discuss course subject materials during lecture and they are expected to be prepared for quizzes on case presentations and pop-quizzes on pre- class material. Make-up exams will be given only under special circumstances such as when absent students provide an official document for their absence. Students will be notified that make-up exams may be in a different format. Students are expected to come to the class on time. If they are more than 20 mins. late, they have to wait until the break to be able to enter in the class. Students must show respect to the teaching efforts of the instructor and to the learning efforts of other students as well. Therefore, any behavior that may disrupt the class coherence will be discouraged. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence. It is an instructional offence to use, as one’s own an idea of another without expressly giving credit to that other person. Students must always submit their own work and not that of another student, scholar, or internet agent. Otherwise, their work will be graded as zero. Plagiarism, failure to meet deadlines or failure to comply with the procedures as prescribed by the Department of Psychology and Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences. Students should interpret deadlines for assignments very literally. They will lose 10% per day from the maximum possible score of the assignment for each day it is late. Academic dishonesty and plagiarism: YÖK Disciplinary Regulation.

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 14 2 3 2 98
Homework Assignments 6 4 24
Midterm(s) 1 8 2 10
Final Examination 1 16 2 18
Total Workload 150
Total Workload/25 6.0
ECTS 6