Course Outline Psychology Department

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LIBERAL ARTS

GSP504 ADULT CLINICAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
JAN – APR 2021

Course title : ADULT CLINICAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Course code : GSP504
Credit hours :2
Pre-requisite : NIL
Coordinator : TAN PEI JUN

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course covers the knowledge necessary to recognise the most common mental health
problems that affect adults throughout the lifespan. The course is designed to build on prior
knowledge of abnormal psychology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the semester, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the symptoms of clinical psychopathology base on latest
version of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
2. perform diagnosis of clinical symptoms for adult clients.
3. explain the diagnosis to the client.

GRADING:

Personal Reflections 10%

Adult Interview 25%
Group Case Presentation 25%
Final Examination 40%
Total 100%

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Course Outline Psychology Department

COURSE SCHEDULE

Topics Class Remarks

Introduction & assignments 1

26/1/2021

Overview of adult 2 Personal reflection 1 due

psychopathology & DSM Reading: Psychopathology slides
system 2/2/2021

Mood Disorders 3

9/2/2021

Anxiety Disorders 4 Personal reflection 2 due

16/2/2021

Dissociative Disorders 5 Adult Interview due

(26 Feb 2021 before 5pm)
Eating Disorders 23/2/2021

Somatoform Disorders 3 hours

6
Group Presentation 1
Substance Abuse and
2/3/2021
Dependency

Personality Disorders 7 3 hours

Group Presentation 2
9/3/2021

Schizophrenia and Related 8 3 hours

Psychotic Disorders Group Presentation 3
16/3/2021

Neurocognitive Disorders 9 3 hours

Group Presentation 4
23/3/2021

Sexual Impulse Control 10 3 hours

Disorders Group Presentation 5
30/3/2021

Case study & Role Play 11 3 hours

Group Presentation 6
6/4/2021

* Contents subject to change.

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Course Outline Psychology Department

* Additional reading materials will be given from time to time.

* Any changes to this schedule will be announced in class and/or on Course Network. It is
your responsibility to make note of any changes.

MAIN TEXT:

1. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic statistical manual of mental

disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
(COMPULSORY TO BUY)

2. World Health Organization (2016). International statistical classification of diseases

and related health problems (ICD-10). World Health Organization.

SUPPORTING TEXT:

3. Chang, E. C. (Ed.). (2012). Handbook of adult psychopathology in Asians: theory,

diagnosis, and treatment. United States of America: Oxford University Press.

4. Hersen, M., Turner, S. M., & Beidel, D. C. (Eds.). (2011). Adult psychopathology and
diagnosis. United States of America: John Wiley & Sons.

5. Lee, C. M., & Hunsley, J. (2017). Introduction to clinical psychology. United States
of America: John Wiley & Sons.

GRADING SCHEME:
Grade Marks Point
A+ High Distinction 85 and above 4.00
A Distinction 75-84 3.75
B+ High Credit 65-74 3.50
B Credit 60-64 3.00
C+ Low Credit 55-59 2.50
C Pass 50-54 2.00
F Fail 0-49 0.00
COURSE POLICIES:

Readings
• Students are to read related materials/books with regards to the topic before class. Even
though only one main text is suggested in this syllabus, students are encouraged to refer
to other development texts as well as supplement reading materials such as journals,
articles, and newspapers.

Lecture & discussion

• Class lectures and discussion will include materials from the main text along with
supplementary information from other sources. Discussion can serve to clarify lectures
and readings as well as introduce interesting examples from real life situations. Students
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are encouraged to ask questions and highlight related concerns either before, during,
or after class. In addition to both methods, students will be exposed to different related
concepts and principles through videos, games and class activities.

Assignments
• A detailed guideline for assignments will be given and discussed accordingly in class.
Students are advised to follow this guideline so as to benefit most from doing the
assigned tasks as well as to avoid from losing crucial marks.
• All assignment scoring rubrics MUST be printed and attached to the assignment during
submission. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of 2 marks from your
assignment.
• Late assignments will NOT BE ACCEPTED. Requests to extend deadlines will not
be entertained, as deadlines are given early in the semester to allow for ample planning
and time management. However, should an unavoidable emergency arise preventing you
from physically being present to submit the assignment by the due date, you are to
consult with your lecturer at least 2 days before the due date.

Absenteeism
• It is your responsibility to provide MC or any official show cause letters within one week
from the date you absent.
• Any letters or MCs after one week period will NOT be accepted.

Plagiarism
• Plagiarism is STRICTLY prohibited in any work carried out in the program. Plagiarism
is the act of trying to pass off another person’s work or idea as your own.
• Using information, quotes, phrases and data from the works of others without giving
proper credit and using proper citation constitutes as plagiarism.
• To avoid accidently plagiarizing the work of others, paraphrase the information and use
proper citation.
• Should you be found to have committed plagiarism, the following action(s) will be taken:
a) A meeting with your lecturer/supervisor to discuss your case.
b) Filing of a plagiarism report.
c) An automatic zero (0%) for the work submitted.

Final examination
• Students of this course will undergo written final examination. Final examination is
mainly focus on the topics discussed in class which will encourage you to think
critically and will also measure your understanding. All material covered in the
textbooks, lectures, and assignments are considered testable material.

Professionalism
• This aspect consists of three main components; attitude, attendance and participation.
▪ Attitude – It includes effort, respect and punctuality. Failure to show these
commitments may affect future professional attitudes.
▪ Attendance – Regular class attendance is expected and it’s very important as the
class lectures and discussions are not always covered by recommended reading

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Course Outline Psychology Department

materials. Lecturer must be informed in advance via emails

(tanpj@ucsiuniversity.edu.my) whenever students are unable to attend classes and
tutorials. Later, proofs must be produced to avoid from being barred. Please take
note that missing from classes for unnecessary reasons will only bring
disadvantages to students themselves.
▪ Participation – Participation in class is essential in the learning process. Students
are expected to contribute actively to class discussion in one way or another
through careful listening to others’ ideas as well as expressing own ideas.
• If you are more than 15 minutes late for class, you will be counted absent.
• You are ultimately responsible for your work in this class. If you miss a class, it is your
responsibility to find out what we discussed and what notes were given out.
• It is imperative that you keep up with the readings and assignments and come prepared
to be an active, informed and respectful participant in all class discussions.
• ALL BEEPERS & CELL PHONES MUST REMAIN IN “OFF” OR “SILENT”
MODE DURING CLASS and KEPT AWAY FROM SIGHT. Please clear it with me
if you feel that you have an emergency situation requiring your cell phone to be on
vibrate mode while you are in class. If you need to use your phone, please step out of
class to do so.
• Please be courteous in class to fellow students and to me. This includes not holding
ongoing conversations during class, not reading for other classes or for pleasure during
class, not doing games or puzzles in class, not surfing the net in class, not sending or
receiving text messages in class, not flirting in class, etc. Please make an effort not to fall
asleep in class. Students who routinely text, surf the net or are otherwise distracted
during class will be dropped from the class.
• Email etiquette. You are expected to write as you would in any professional
correspondence. Email communication should be courteous and respectful in manner and
tone. Do not send emails that are curt or demanding. Also, do not expect an immediate
response via email. Normally, a response will be sent within two business days. If your
email/question is send at the last minute, it may not be possible to send you a response
before an assignment is due or a test is given.

Consultation hours:
• Students may consult the lecturer regarding any queries related to the subject. It is
strongly advisable for students to make an appointment via email at least 24 hours
in advance at tanpj@ucsiuniversity.edu.my. Walk-ins outside of allotted consultation
hours WILL NOT be entertained. Please state the date and time for consultation in your
email.

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