Syllabus Outline: Brief Psychotherapy- Psychological disorders

Course Title 

Brief Psychotherapy- Psychological disorders 

Course Description 

Psychological disorders remain some of the wider psychological topics that can be designed as a six-week course with over ten possible subtopics discussing various elements of disorders associated with the mind and behavior of human being. Primarily psychology can be construed as a discipline concerned with the human mind. However, disorders are anomalies that can negatively disrupt the normal functioning of the human mind. 

Psychological disorders mainly affect human more than they do to other animals and creatures and as such require prominence in their analysis and studies. Certain psychological disorders are harmful to the body of the human beings and require urgent therapy. For instance, trauma and stressors cause not only depression but also other complicated illnesses associated with paralysis. The human brain controls the functions of the entire body organs. However, trauma as a psychological disorder that significantly affects the human brain which may realize an insane individual or a person with a disturbed function of organs that rely on it. Therefore, a prudent study of these elements of psychological disorders may inform best therapies to deal with them. Additionally, there exists prior knowledge on dealing with some of these conditions which can further help to address the challenges associated with the above psychological defects 

Course Outcomes 

With regard to psychological disorders, the student is expected to define and illustrate various aspects related to the following conditions: Hyperactivity, depression, phobia, schizophrenia, binge, neurocognitive disorder, bipolar, personality disorder, trauma and stressor and anxiety disorder. In addition, the student should be able to diagnose and manage the mentioned conditions. Students should realize that psychological disorders are a major problem in the health of individuals in various settings thus their knowledge in relation to the conditions is paramount in reducing the associated prevalence rates. 

Eventually, learners should be able to define, illustrate, diagnose and manage various psychological related disorders. 

Required Readings and Other Supporting Resources 

Alvarez, S. (2013).  Hallucinations: Causes, Management and Prognosis . New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 

Buttross, L. S. (2007).  Understanding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. 

Munsch, S., & Beglinger, C. (2005).  Obesity and binge eating disorder . Basel: Karger. 

Parks, P. J. (2011).  Anxiety disorders . San Diego, CA: ReferencePoint Press. 

Puri, B. K. (2008).  Pocket Essentials of Psychiatry . London: Elsevier Health Sciences UK. 

Castle, D. J., & Buckley, P. F. (2008).  Schizophrenia . Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Rosowsky, E., Abrams, R., & Zweig, R. A. (1999).  Personality disorders in older adults: Emerging issues in diagnosis and treatment . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. 

Wasserman, D. (2011).  Depression . Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Young, A. H., Ferrier, I. N., & Michalak, E. E. (2010).  Practical management of bipolar disorder . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Module Topics (in order of delivery) 

Hyperactivity, 

Depression 

Phobia 

Schizophrenia 

Binge 

Neurocognitive disorder 

Bipolar disorder 

Personality disorder 

Trauma, stressor and anxiety disorder. 

Module Topics, Sub-topics, Readings and Learning Activities 

Module	Topics and subtopics	Readings	Assignments / Learning Activities
1	Hyperactivity  Definition of condition  Signs and symptoms  Management of patients	Buttross, L. S. (2007).  Understanding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.	Give case study on hyperactivity. Students to submit answered questions on class blackboard platform
2	Depression  Causes  Assessment  Treatment  Sex differences  Management of patients	Wasserman, D. (2011).  Depression . Oxford: Oxford University Press.	Make students to make small discussion groups. Instruct them to discuss on actual depression situations that they have experienced; they should submit responses to instructor. Discretion and confidentiality should be observed.
3	Phobia  Classification  Causes  Signs and symptoms  Diagnosis and management	Puri, B. K. (2008).  Pocket Essentials of Psychiatry . London: Elsevier Health Sciences UK.	Students to research on all phobia related topics
4	Schizophrenia  History and epidemiology  Society and culture  Signs and symptoms  Causes  Prevention  Diagnosis  Management  Prognosis	Castle, D. J., & Buckley, P. F. (2008).  Schizophrenia . Oxford: Oxford University Press.	Case study to be presented to students and answers submitted to the instructor
5	Binge  Definition of condition  Signs and symptoms  Management of patients	Munsch, S., & Beglinger, C. (2005).  Obesity and binge eating disorder . Basel: Karger.	Discussion groups to be formed and students engaged to elaborate whether the issue has affected them
6	Neurocognitive disorder  History and epidemiology  Society and culture  Signs and symptoms  Causes  Prevention  Diagnosis  Management  Prognosis	Alvarez, S. (2013).  Hallucinations: Causes, Management and Prognosis . New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.	Case study to be presented to students. Students to visit a psychiatric center and clerk affected patients
7	Bipolar disorder  History and epidemiology  Society and culture  Signs and symptoms  Causes  Prevention  Diagnosis  Management  Prognosis	Young, A. H., Ferrier, I. N., & Michalak, E. E. (2010).  Practical management of bipolar disorder . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.	Affected patients in a recognized psychiatric center to be clerked and presentations done in a class setting
8	Personality disorder  Definition of condition  Signs and symptoms  Management of patients	Rosowsky, E., Abrams, R., & Zweig, R. A. (1999).  Personality disorders in older adults: Emerging issues in diagnosis and treatment . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.	Case studies to be presented to the students in form of actual examination or assessment
9	Trauma, stressor and anxiety disorder.  Definition of condition  Signs and symptoms  Management of patients	Parks, P. J. (2011).  Anxiety disorders . San Diego, CA: ReferencePoint Press.	Discussion groups to be formed and students instructed to discuss the related topics