PSYC 245 - Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
Using a developmental psychopathology framework, this course examines the symptoms, causes, and treatments of disorders of children and adolescents and their occurrence along multiple domains. A broad overview of the field of developmental psychology is presented followed by an examination of the major disorders of childhood and adolescence.  The biopsychosocial context of youth development are addressed.

Prerequisite PSYC 201.

A. Compare and contrast the developmental psychopathology approach with the traditional clinical disorder approach to understanding childhood psychopathology. 

B. Describe how individuals are intricately tied to their social and cultural contexts.  

C. Identify the complex roles that environmental systems play in generating and maintaining psychological and behavioral functioning.  

D. Demonstrate a basic understanding of research methods and the interpretation of quantitative results, such as correlation.  

E. Identify the major psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence. 

F. Identify the diagnostic standards of the major disorders of childhood and adolescence using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness, 5th Ed. (DSM-5).   

G. Recognize evidence based treatments for the major disorders of childhood and adolescence. 

Content
A. Developmental psychopathology 

B. Social context of development 

C. Research methods  

D. Major psychological disorders of childhood 

E. DSM-5 diagnostic standards 

F. Evidence-based treatments 

Student Evaluation
A. Objective and essay exams 

B. Objective and essay exams, paper and/or presentation on a major psychological disorder of childhood 

C. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation on a major psychological disorder of childhood 

D. Objective and essay exams 

E. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation on a major psychological disorder of childhood 

F. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation on a major psychological disorder of childhood 

G. Objective and essay exams, policy analysis paper and/or presentation on a major psychological disorder of childhood 

Bibliography
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.  5th Ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.  2013. Print. 

Belsky, Jay & Pluess, Michael. “Beyond Risk, Resilience and Dysregulation: Phenotypic Plasticity and Human Development.” Development and Psychopathology, 25 (2013): 1243-1261. Print. 

Cicchetti, Dante. “Development and Psychopathology” In D. Cicchetti (Ed.), Developmental Psychopathology, Vol 1: Theory and Method.  Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons. 2006. Print.  

Luther, Suniya S. (Ed.). Resilience and Vulnerability: Adaptation in the Context of Childhood Adversities.  New York:  Cambridge University Press.  (2003). Print. 

Srouf, L. Alan. “The Concept of Development in Developmental Psychopathology” Development and Psychopathology. 9 (2009): 251-268. Print.  

Zeanah, Charles, H., Jr. (Ed).  Handbook of Infant Mental Health. 2nd Ed.  New York: Guilford Press. (2006). Print.