COUN 5359:

Abnormal Human Behavior

Spring 2006

Prof:   Drema Dial Albin, Ph.D.                                                            Classroom: ED 4005             

Phone:   512-245-9071                                                                            Meets: Monday 3:30-6:15 PM

Email:   da13@txstate.edu                                                                    Office:   ED 4013

Office hours:   by appt, M 12-3, W 11-1 (RRHEC)

Course Description:

The principles of understanding dysfunction in human behavior and systemic organization. This course includes diagnostic, preventive, and remedial methods and interventions.

Prerequisite : COUN 5307

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of developmental crises, disability, addictive behavior, psychopathology, and environmental factors as they affect both normal and abnormal behavior. (CACREP IIK: 3c; CC: C4)

• Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize a client within a systematically derived theoretical model(s). (CACREP IIK: 5c; CC: C4)

• Demonstrate appropriate methods of gathering information from a client. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

• Differentially diagnose the client using the five axial model of the DSM IV and integrate theory and praxis. (CACREP IIK: 7h; CC: C5)

• Use appropriate evaluation techniques to identify behavior, attitudes, and values that impact the counseling relationship. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

• Demonstrate an intake interview consisting of Socratic questions necessary for entering the client’s world. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

• Incorporate counselor or consultant characteristics and behaviors that influence helping processes including age, gender and ethnic differences, verbal and nonverbal behaviors and personal characteristics, orientations, and skills when planning counseling strategies or analyzing counseling sessions. (CACREP IIK: 5a)

• Identify and assess self-characteristics and behaviors that influence and impact the relationship with clients and professional peers. (CACREP IIK: 5a)

• Discern self-behaviors, attitudes and values versus those of clients that influence the therapeutic relationship. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

• Demonstrate respect for the attitudes of clients, peers and professional colleagues. (CACREP IIK: 2b)

1. Become increasingly more intentional in the counseling work being done. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

1. Learn to establish a therapeutic relationship while also gathering information in the initial stage of treatment. (CACREP IIK: 5b)

1. Incorporate age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, language, disability, culture, spirituality, and other factors into the assessment, evaluation, and interpretations of assessments of individuals, groups, and specific populations. (CACREP IIK: 7f)

1. Gain an understanding of the role of SES, age, gender, culture, sexual orientation, race, and community in clients’ lives. (CACREP IIK: 2c)

1. Incorporate ethical and legal considerations when assessing clients. (CACREP IIK: 7i)

Methods of Instruction:

Students may expect lectures, student class presentations, class discussions, guest speakers, role-playing, small group work and video presentations.

Required Texts:

American Psychiatric Association.   (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.), Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Seligman, L. (1998). Selecting Effective Treatments. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Required additional reading may be assigned throughout the semester.

Course Requirements:

• Participation:   Attendance is considered a professional obligation.   Students must attend class fully prepared to participate in discussions and role-play experiences.   If you must be absent, please notify me in advance either by phone or by email.   Excessive absences may necessitate your needing to repeat the class.

• Intake:   All students will be required to do an intake session with a role-played client.   This intake will be conducted outside of class time with either a classmate or a person of your choosing.   Following the interview, the student will write a multi-axial DSM diagnosis, a case conceptualization, and a treatment plan for that client.   This paper will be graded based on adherence to format, clear writing, and attention to proofreading.

• Exams:   A mid-term and a final exam will be administered over the course material; this will be focused on the DSM and diagnostic/treatment issues contained in the readings as well as class lectures and discussions.   The final is comprehensive.   Both exams contain multiple-choice items, short answer questions, and a case study consisting of intake a multi-axial diagnosis, case conceptualization and a treatment plan.

Grading:

You will be evaluated on all requirements stated above based on a 4.0 scale with the following weights:

Intake with diagnosis, case conceptualization, treatment plan                                            25%

Mid-term exam                                                                                                                             35%

Final Exam                                                                                                                                     40%

Please note:

• Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism in any form, will not be tolerated.  
• Late papers will lose 10 points each day they are late.

Tentative Course Schedule:

Topics and Readings*

1/23                         Introductions; overview                                      

                                Using the DSM                                                                     DSM use of the manual

                                Multi-axial diagnosis                                                           DSM multiaxial assessment                                                                                                             

1/30                         Therapist-Client Relationship                                           SET, chapters 1,10

                                Clinical interview                                                                                

Treatment planning                                            

Developmental paper due

2/06                         Mood Disorders                                                                    DSM

                                Depression; Bipolar Disorders                                         SET, ch. 4

2/13                         Anxiety Disorders                                                                DSM

                                                                                                                                SET, ch. 5              

2/20                         Eating Disorders                                                  DSM

                                                                                                                                SET, ch. 6, (pp. 266-274)

Impulse Control Disorders                                                                    (pp. 274-287)

Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders                                                   (pp. 287-293)

2/27                         Substance-related Disorders                                             DSM

                                                                                                                                SET, ch. 6 (pp. 243-266)

3/06                         MIDTERM EXAM

3/13                         NO CLASS____________***SPRING BREAK***______________

3/20                         Schizophrenia & other Psychotic                                     DSM

                                Disorders                                                                               SET, ch. 9

                                Dissociative Disorders

3/27                         No class: Independent study                                                              

4/03                         Personality Disorders:                                                       DSM

                                Cluster A:                                                                              SET, ch. 8 (pp. 328-348)

Paranoid, Schizoid Schizotypal                                                       

                                Cluster B:                                                                              DSM

Antisocial, Borderline                                       SET, ch. 8   (pp. 348-367)

                                                Histrionic, Narcissistic

4/10                         Personality Disorders:                                                       DSM

                                Cluster C:                                                                              SET, ch. 8   (pp. 367-385)

Avoidant, Dependent

Obsessive-Compulsive

Personality Disorder NOS

4/17                         Somatoform & Factitious Disorders                                DSM

                                Adjustment Disorders                                                         SET, ch. 6 (pp. 126-139)

Comprehensive intake write-up due

4/24                         V-codes                                                                                   DSM

Relational Problems                                                            DSM

                                Domestic Abuse                                                                    SET, ch. 6 (139-149)

5/01                         FINAL

Texas State University-San Marcos seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. The University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to register with Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.