PSYC4 Fall Quarter Syllabus & Canvas Instructions

 PSYC4 Fall Quarter Syllabus & Canvas Instructions

Dear Students,

Please read this entire e-mail for complete instructions on how to access this course, as well as what you should do first once you have access.

Our Abnormal Psychology class (Psych4) has been published on Canvas.  

Go to https://deanza.instructure.com. Use your MyPortal credentials to log in. You will be taken to the Canvas dashboard where you should see our course visible: ·  F22 PSYC D004 62Z, 65Z Abnormal Psychology.

Canvas Orientation

The course doesn't officially begin until Monday September 26th, so you will not be able to access all of Week 1's material until then. Please test your login and explore the platform so you become familiar with it. IMPORTANT: Check the “System Requirements” page to ensure your computer is compatible with the platform.

Canvas can be configured to send notifications to your email for everything from Announcements to Discussion posts. I highly recommend setting your Announcement notification preference to ASAP. This will ensure that you receive time-sensitive information, right away; this is how I will be communicating with the entire class. You can find instructions on setting your notifications in "Navigating Canvas (student guide)".

How the Course Works

The course is divided into weekly Modules. You should always begin the week by starting with the first item in the Module, (this is usually the chapter notes), and then work your way sequentially through the subsequent elements. I explain the weekly schedule and expectations on the Course Information page. You will be unable to open the week one materials until you read through the Course Information page.

This is not a self-paced course. The expectation is that you keep up with the weekly materials and assignments.

****Getting Help

If you need technical assistance, click the "Help" button on the left side of the Canvas webpage. Please do not send tech-related questions to me; our support staff will field those issues.

First Steps Once you have access:

1) Read through the Course Information page

2) Read through the syllabus (I also attached it to this e-mail)

3) Look over the Navigating Canvas (Student Guide)

4) Go through the module, “Course Information and Resources”. You will not be able to start Week 1 Module until you go over each part.

5) Week 1 Module (starting Monday, September 26th); Note: chapter notes will automatically upload or you can download them.

One misconception about online courses, is that they are easier than face-to-face courses. If you’re hoping for an “easy A”, this course is not for you. I have high expectations for all of my students, including my online students. I want you to not only learn the material but also learn about yourself and others and see how the material is applicable outside of the course.

Please look over the information on this link if this is your first online course: http://www.deanza.edu/online-ed/students/onlinelearning.html

 Thank you for registering for this course and reading this lengthy e-mail.

I look forward to "meeting all of you",

Shannon Hassett

(Dissociative disorder)

 We will research our chosen disorder (Dissociative disorder) to have a more in-depth understanding of the disorder focusing on:

1. What the DSM V diagnostic criteria are for this disorder

2. What distinguishes it from other dissociative disorders (pertinent symptoms)

3. Case studies you can find (published, educational videos)

4. Misconceptions portrayed by popular media (movies, TV shows, “news” articles, Tik Tok, etc.)

5. Are there disorders that people confuse this disorder with? If so, which one(s) and why?

6. Treatments

1. Dissociative Identity Disorder Diagnostic Criteria 300.14 (F44.81)

Catlinh: 

A. Disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states, which

may be described in some cultures as an experience of possession. The disruption in

identity involves marked discontinuity in sense of self and sense of agency, accompanied

by related alterations in affect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception,

cognition, and/or sensory-motor functioning. These signs and symptoms may be observed

by others or reported by the individual.

B. Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/

or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.

C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational,

or other important areas of functioning.

D. The disturbance is not a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice.

Note: In children, the symptoms are not better explained by imaginary playmates or

other fantasy play.

E. The symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g.,

blacl<outs or chaotic behavior during alcohol intoxication) or another medical condition

(e.g., complex partial seizures).

B) What distinguishes it from other dissociative disorders (pertinent symptoms)

Catlinh: DID has distinct personalities, all are different manifestations of a single one while schizophrenia is about a personality that is broken, shattered into many ones. The host may know about all other personalities and “manage” them.

Aster: Dissociative identity disorder involves two or more identities or personalities that may differ even in age, gender, and race. There may be identity confusion and memory issues and it is possible for the host to be unaware of the other personalities.

C) Case studies you can find (published, educational videos)

Catlinh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9tLy9NGHW4 (A young lady revealed (demo’ed?) her 2 identities).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c8xpiCKtHQ (A woman with DID conjures on TV interviews).

Aster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAtK2s_SDnA (A woman with 12 alters).

D) Misconceptions portrayed by popular media (movies, TV shows, “news” articles, Tik Tok, etc.)

Aster: Oftentimes when dissociative identity disorder is portrayed in shows, they are shown to have an ‘evil’ side or personality that comes out. This is not how DID works, one is not split into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sides. Portraying it in such a way causes harmful misconceptions that people with DID are dangerous.

E) Are there disorders that people confuse this disorder with? If so, which one(s) and why?

Catlinh: People may confuse DID with schizophrenia as people see a patient with different personalities. 

Aster: A common misdiagnosis is borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder impacts the way one’s feeling about oneself and others. It causes issues with one’s self-image and managing emotions and behavior. It can also cause a trend of unstable relationships.

F) Treatments

Catlinh: Antipsychotic drugs with psychotherapy.

Aster: There is no cure for DID but long-term can help. Psychotherapy can be used to work through what triggered the DID and connect all the personalities into one capable of controlling the triggers. Hypnotherapy is used along with psychotherapy as well.

Citation:

Aster:

“Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder).” WebMD, 17 Apr. 2008, www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder.

Spiegel, David. “Expert Q&A: Dissociative Disorders.” American Psychiatric Association, Oct. 2020, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/dissociative-disorders/expert-q-and-a#:~:text=Are%20people%20with%20dissociative%20identity,auditory%20hallucinations%20(hearing%20voices).

“Borderline Personality Disorder - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 17 July 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20370237.

eam Assignment #3 (Understanding Dissociative Disorders) | Due: Sun Nov 13, 2022 11:59pmDue: Sun Nov 13, 2022 11:59pm Ungraded, 10 Possible Points

 For this assignment, you will need to do the following:

1. Review the general assignment details (found in the Course Information/Resources Module) on Canvas
2. Review Ch. 6 on Dissociative Disorders
3. Choose one of the Dissociative Disorders to focus on
4. You will research your chosen disorder to have a more in-depth understanding of the disorder focusing on:
   1. What the DSM V diagnostic criteria are for this disorder
   2. What distinguishes it from other dissociative disorders (pertinent symptoms)
   3. Case studies you can find (published, educational videos)
   4. Misconceptions portrayed by popular media (movies, TV shows, “news” articles, Tik Tok, etc.)
   5. Are there disorders that people confuse this disorder with? If so, which one(s) and why?
   6. Treatments

Your submission will include the following:

1. Names of your teammates (begin with captain)
2. The disorder you are focusing on & the DSM V diagnostic criteria
3. How to distinguish this particular disorder from other dissociative disorders (i.e., how would a clinician come to this diagnosis and not others?)
4. What misconceptions you found on this disorder based on mainstream beliefs and inaccurate portrayals in the media (you need to include at least 2 misconceptions)
5. Based on your research of the above, describe (show) how you would educate the public on this disorder so they have a better understanding of this disorder, focusing on:
   1. Specific symptoms
   2. Any related disorders that are confused with this disorder & how they are different
   3. Treatment options
   4. Any perceived danger associated with someone with this disorder (i.e., is there really a danger or is this perception based on misinformation and/or “what sells”?)

6. Presenting this in a creative way (think in terms of educating the public & what sparks interest)

quizz

  Answers will be shown after your last attempt

Score for this attempt: 6 out of 10

Submitted Nov 6 at 11:23pm

This attempt took 10 minutes.

 

PartialQuestion 1

1 / 2 pts

A 27-year-old married electrician complains of dizziness, sweating palms, heart palpitations, and ringing of the ears of more than 18 months' duration. He has also experienced dry mouth and throat, periods of extreme muscle tension, and a constant "edgy" and watchful feeling that has often interfered with his ability to concentrate. These feelings have been present most of the time over the previous 2 years; they have not been limited to discrete periods. He constantly worries about the health of his parents. His father, in fact, had a myocardial infarction 2 years previously but is now feeling well. He also worries about whether he is "a good father," whether his wife will ever leave him (there is no indication that she is dissatisfied with the marriage), and whether co-workers on the job like him. Although he recognizes that his worries are often unfounded, he cannot stop worrying. Most likely the electrician is experiencing symptoms of Panic Disorder . The best treatment from the options below would be Relaxation Training :

Answer 1:

Panic Disorder

 

Answer 2:

Relaxation Training

 

 

Question 2

2 / 2 pts

 A 40-year old man is admitted to the emergency room (ER) with the following symptoms: shortness of breath, a sense of impending doom, profuse sweating and heart palpitations. The ER doctors check his blood pressure and heart rate which are elevated. They run an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is normal. They also run blood tests which come back normal too. An ER nurse speaks with him to get his medical history. The man mentions that he has had other similar episodes, which typically last a few minutes and each time he was released from the hospital without any evidence of heart issues. Upon further questioning, the man describes when these episodes began. They started about 2.5 years ago after a bad motorcycle accident in which he was severely injured. Most likely this man is experiencing symptoms of Panic Disorder . The best treatment from the options below would be Relaxation training and regular psychotherapy :

Answer 1:

Panic Disorder

 

Answer 2:

Relaxation training and regular psychotherapy

 

 

PartialQuestion 3

1 / 2 pts

A 27-year old, upper-middle class woman has referred herself for therapy after her behaviors began to intrude on her ability to carry out her work, which was a source of meaning and satisfaction for her. She had always been a top student and recognized at her job. She was absorbed with her job and had very few friends. She complained of vague anxieties about dating, marriage, having a family and other related issues. Around the same time, she began experiencing symptoms that focused on cleanliness. Her concern with cleanliness gradually evolved into a thorough cleansing ritual, which usually was precipitated by touching her genital area. In her ritual, she would remove all of her clothing in a sequence. She would lie out each piece of clothing on specific areas of her bed and examine each one for any indications of “contamination”. She would then thoroughly scrub her body, starting at her feet and working meticulously up to the top of her head, using specific washcloths for certain body areas. Any articles of clothing that appeared to have been contaminated were thrown into the laundry. Clean clothing was put in the vacant spots on her bed. She would then dress herself in the opposite order from which she took the clothes off. If she deviated from this order, she would wonder if she had missed any contamination and began the sequence again. It was not uncommon that she did this 4-5 times in a row. As time passed, she developed other rituals in response to thoughts, usually related to using the toilet, sexual issues or encountering “contamination in public places”. As her rituals widened, her ability to function decreased more and more due to the time and energy she spent engaging in them. She was aware of the absurdities of her behaviors but felt compelled to engage in them. Most likely this woman is experiencing symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder . The best treatment from the options below would be: Rational Emotive Therapy .

Answer 1:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

 

Answer 2:

Rational Emotive Therapy

 

 

PartialQuestion 4

1 / 2 pts

A 38-year old mother of four walks into an Emergency Room (ER) five hours from where she lives. She complains of a severe headache, dizziness and blurry vision. An ER nurse takes her vitals and everything is normal, but the mother insists she is really sick. The ER doctor orders a full blood work panel, and they come back normal as well. The mother gets more angry and agitated, then falls to the floor in what appears to be a seizure. The ER doctor orders Electroencephalography (EEG) of her brain, and this is also normal. The doctors decide to admit her to the hospital and continue to monitor her and notify her immediate family. Her husband responds to the nurse with "she is in the hospital again?! Where now?". The nurse asks what he means, and he goes on to explain that she has been hospitalized in four different hospitals on four separate occasions in the last 6 months with the same symptoms and that nothing has come back abnormal. He then goes on to say that these symptoms arose soon after he told her he wanted to file for divorce. He said she became "hysterical" begging him not to leave her and throwing items at the wall. He told her she needed to spend the night at a hotel to "cool off" and that they could discuss it further the next day. The next morning when she came back, she told him she felt ill, then suddenly fell to the floor seizing. He called 9-1-1, and she was admitted over night. He agreed he would not file for divorce as she was not physically well and needed help with the children. This then happened 3 more times while he brought up marital issues. He told the nurse "this is the last straw. She is manipulating me so I won't file for divorce." After hanging up with the patient's husband, the nurse notifies the doctors, and they refer the patient to psychiatry. She tells the hospital psychiatrist that it's her husband's fault. If he would just be a "good husband" and give her the attention she needs, none of this would have happened. The psychiatrist follows up asking what she means. She gets flustered and says she is feeling ill again and doesn't want to talk anymore. While the psychiatrist is leaving her room the patient experiences another "seizure". Doctors run additional tests and still find nothing wrong and release her from the hospital. Most likely the mother is experiencing symptoms of         [ Select ]      ["Munchausen Syndrome", "Conversion Disorder", "Panic Disorder", "Epilepsy", "Dissociative Fugue", "Dissociative Amnesia"]  . The best treatment from the options below would be:         [ Select ]      ["Anticonvulsants", "Antianxiety Medication", "Hospitalization", "No reliable treatment currently exists", "Electroconvulsive Therapy"]  .

Answer 1:

Conversion Disorder

 

Answer 2:

No reliable treatment currently exists

 

 

PartialQuestion 5

1 / 2 pts

A 31-year old nurse has received on and off in-patient psychiatric care over the past 5 years. Approximately 2 weeks after her most recent readmission, she became very confused about her surroundings and complained, “Everything had changed”. When staff tried to her calm her, she became verbally abusive, shouting obscenities and swinging her fists. She gave the present date as 8 months prior and believed she was at a hospital over a thousand miles away. The date and hospital description corresponded to a hospital she had been admitted to. She appeared not to remember much of the months that followed this stay. Amnesiac episodes were frequent for her. She is a quiet, demur and conscientious person, but her behavior often changes during these amnesiac episodes. According to reports made by her family and friends, and previous therapists, her behavior during these “black outs” was often hostile, angry and self-destructive. She did not remember these episodes, yet she would often find physical evidence, such as new cuts and bruises after a blackout. She often woke up to find herself in bed with a man she did not know. Most likely the nurse is experiencing symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder . The best treatment from the options below would be Phase Approach Aimed at Safety and Integration :

Answer 1:

Borderline Personality Disorder

 

Answer 2:

Phase Approach Aimed at Safety and Integration

 

 Question 1

1 / 1 pts

Stephan experiences periods of intense fear, characterized by heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness, choking sensations and a sense of impending doom. If he were to be diagnosed with a psychological disorder, most likely it would be:

  

OCD

 

  

PTSD

 

  

GAD

 

  

Panic Disorder

 

 

Question 2

1 / 1 pts

Shala has been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. Her obsessions are about doubts. Her compulsion is checking. She checks the following things multiple times a day: whether the door is locked on her house and car, whether she has turned the stove off, whether she has set the house alarm. If her therapist were to use a behavioral treatment, which one would most likely provide the greatest relief of Shala's obsessions and compulsions?

  

Exposure & Response Prevention

 

  

Flooding

 

  

Rewards

 

  

EMDR

 

 

IncorrectQuestion 3

0 / 1 pts

Which of the following symptoms is/are specific to trauma and stress disorders, like PTSD?

  

Physical symptoms, such as heart racing, sweating

 

  

High anxiety when exposed to situations the person fears

 

  

Difficulty sleeping

 

  

Re-living the trauma

 

 

PartialQuestion 4

0.33 / 1 pts

What distinguishes a phobia from a normal fear?

  

The reasonableness of the fear

 

  

Causes significant dysfunction

 

  

The intensity of the fear

 

  

A greater desire to avoid the feared object/situation

 

 

IncorrectQuestion 5

0 / 1 pts

What do somatic symptom (somatoform) & dissociative disorders have in common with GAD, Panic Disorder and PTSD?

  

They all are associated with anxiety

 

  

Drug therapy is the best treatment for all

 

  

They are more frquently diagnosed in men

 

  

They are all relatively easy to treat

 

 

Team/Group Assignment #2 (Diagnosing Abnormality)

Due: Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:59pm

This is Team AAA is Group 8, comprising of 8 following members:

1. Catlinh Nguyen

2. Alexia Cortes

3. Aster Bailey 

4. Jordan Pascual 

5. Phyu Phyu Thant   

6. Andy Nguyen 

7. Alex Estrada     

8. Esmeralda Villatoro (Vanessa).      

Assignment details on Canvas: https://deanza.instructure.com/courses/26922/assignments/829304?module_item_id=2239385 

What do we need to do?

I think the whole group needs to give an example for each of the 3 features of Psy. abnormality: Distress, Dysfunction, and Deviance.

Execution plan proposal:

I can try writing the first draft on the 3 features for a particular disorder, then we take turns arguing for/against it. Our reference would be based on the 3 key features above and/or DSM V, including recommending a better way to assess if possible.

So it would be like a live debate. I (or anyone) can fire the first shot, then all chime in. I will write down all the debate/discussion and turn it into the final essay. If I fire the first shot, I would like to write about ADHD (as it is common enough for us to do research).

Note: Each person would need to give at least a citation. Let’s pick the MLA style for group consistency. Here is the citation link on Canvas: https://deanza.instructure.com/courses/26922/files/8154137?wrap=1 

Please chime in and state your opinion / feedback. Thank you. Catlinh.

If you agree to the above plan, click thumb-up.

If you would like to fire the first shot, please tell the group which topic you will write about.

oOo

CatLinh’s first shot on ADHD

Distress: An example of distress in people with ADHD is the stressful emotions followed by emotional eruption. They will breathe quickly with hand shaking, move up and down repeatedly, raise their voices.

Dysfunction: When facing an unexpected change such as Mom's decision to leave the park sooner, a child with ADHD will / cannot listen to Mom's irrational explanation. He/she may keep repeating "Why are you doing this?" and screaming. Another example is when the teacher plans a field trip, he/she will keep asking classmates, "What do we go" repeatedly, day over day, causing disruption in class. As a result, they often get timed out, impacting their study.

Deviance: A person with ADHD will have impulsive behaviors which are exacerbated due to lack of social skills. For example, while attending a funeral, he/she may point to the picture of the deceased and say "he looks dead." Another example is laughing when seeing a senior citizen fall. That behavior is not conforming to social norms, causing negative reactions from bystanders. Therefore it is out of deviance.

Aster’s start of the discussion:

    I think there is a lot that could be improved upon in the process of diagnosing psychological and mental abnormality. Most notably, the DSM-V can be rather biased, especially culturally, as ‘normal behaviors’ varies between cultures. This form of diagnosis is based on norms rather than scientific evidence. It also focuses on medication as the first form of treatment when other treatments may be an option. With this, there is a connection with the pharmaceutical industry with the intent of getting more money. As for the 3 key features, for the most part it makes sense to me but I’m sure it could be improved as well, like most things.

Ball, Jeff. “What Are the Most Problematic Issues with the DSM-5?: PCH.” PCH Treatment Center, 12 May 2022, https://www.pchtreatment.com/dsm-5-issues/. 

Alex’s start of the discussion: