Course Outline Psychology Department

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LIBERAL ARTS

GSP504 ADULT CLINICAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
MAY - AUGUST 2022

Course Title : Adult Clinical Psychopathology

Course Code : GSP504
Credit Hours : 2
Pre-requisite : Nil
Lecturer : Alex Ng Wei Siong

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course presents a broad overview of adult clinical psychopathology, including, but not
limited to, psychosis, mood, anxiety, and personality disorders Course participants will
examine and review critically the major historical and current perspectives regarding the
etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of adult psychiatric disorders and will apply this perspective
to contemporary, evidence-based clinical practice. Students will learn about the DSM and ICD
classification systems, their controversies, and how to use these systems in clinical practice to
use a common diagnostic language to facilitate assessment and treatment. The course will also
examine the impact of socio-cultural variables on the development, personal experience, and
meaning of psychiatric illness.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the semester, candidates should be able to:

Learning outcomes Assessment

Demonstrate a good understanding of the psychopathology Assignment / Presentation /
of minor patients based on the latest diagnostic criteria Test / Examination
listed in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5)

Able to give a diagnosis or impression clinical suggestion Assignment / Presentation /

of clinical symptoms for clients. Test / Examination

Explain the diagnosis or impression clinical suggestion to Assignment / Presentation /

the parents/caregivers of clients. Test / Examination

Page 1 of 2
Course Outline Psychology Department

GRADING
Role Play 30%
Case Study 20%
Report Writing 10%
Final Examination 40%
Total 100%

CONTENT
1. Introduction and historical review to adult clinical psychopathology
2. Current paradigms in adult clinical psychopathology
3. Vulnerabilities and risk factors for adult clinical psychopathology
4. Orientation to psychiatric diagnosis and nosology for adult clinical psychopathology
5. Diagnostic clinical evaluation & mental status examination for adult clinical
psychopathology
6. Mood Disorders
7. Anxiety Disorders
8. Dissociative Disorders and Somatic Symptom-Related Disorders
9. Schizophrenia
10. Substance Use Disorder
11. Sexual Disorders
12. Disorders of Childhood as grown up to adult
13. Feeding and Eating Disorders
14. Personality Disorders
15. Neurocognitive Disorder

MAIN TEXT:
Beidel, D. C., & Frueh, B. C. (Eds.). (2018). Adult psychopathology and diagnosis (8th ed.).
John Wiley & Sons.

Craighead, W. E., Millowitz, D. J., & Craighead, L. W. (Eds.) (2017), Psychopathology:

history, diagnosis, and empirical foundations (3rd edition). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

SUPPORTING TEXT:
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders,
(5th ed.). Washington D.C: American Psychiatric Association.

Lilienfeld, S.O. Smith, F.S., & Watts, A.L. (2017). Diagnosis: Conceptual issues and
controversies. In Craighead, W. E., Millowitz, D. J., & Craighead, L. W. (Eds.),
Psychopathology: history, diagnosis, and empirical foundations (3rd edition). (pp.1- 38).
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

World Health Organization (2016). International Statistical Classification of Diseases and

Related Health Problems (ICD-10). Malta: World Health Organization.

Page 2 of 2