Which Topics are Covered in an Abnormal Psychology Course?

<h3 id="section---AbnormalPsychologyCourseStructure">Abnormal Psychology Course Structure</h3> <p>If you take an abnormal psychology course, you will cover topics like the classification of disorders, diagnoses, treatments, and rehabilitation. You are also likely to cover the social implications of abnormal psychology, as well as the legal and ethical implications of abnormalities. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisCourse">Important Facts About This Course</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Degrees</td><td>Associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, certificate</td></tr> <tr><td>Degree Field</td><td> Psychology</td></tr> <tr><td>Concentrations</td><td> Counseling; industrial/organization psychology; human resources; health psychology</td></tr> <tr><td>Online Availability</td><td>Programs with abnormal psychology courses are available in a hybrid format</td></tr> <tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $81,040 (<i>for psychologists in all career fields</i>)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 6% (<i>for psychologists in all career fields</i>)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---ClassificationAndDiagnosis">Classification and Diagnosis</h3> <p>Many abnormal psychology courses will begin by teaching you how to classify, assess, and diagnose mental disorders. Lectures are likely to include information about the history of assessment and diagnoses of abnormal psychological disorders and an overview of various psychological tests. You will learn how to administer intelligence and neuropsychological tests, and you will gain an understanding of personality inventories. </p> <h3 id="section---AbnormalPsychologicalDisordersAndTreatment">Abnormal Psychological Disorders and Treatment</h3> <p>Most courses will provide you with a foundational understanding of the symptoms, theories, and known causes of anxiety disorders, somatoform and dissociative disorders, substance abuse, cognitive disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. You will study how these disorders have been treated throughout history, and you'll examine psychotherapeutic interventions for these disorders. You are also likely to discuss the effectiveness of using medication to treat mental illness and the potential for overmedicating. </p> <h3 id="section---LegalAndEthicalIssues">Legal and Ethical Issues</h3> <p>Another part of your course material will examine the different legal and ethical issues related to abnormal psychological conditions and their treatment. In your class, you will discuss the differences between criminal commitment, civil commitment, and voluntary hospitalization. Additionally, you will cover how the law defines different mental disorders and the challenges related to predicting dangerous or violent behavioral patterns. </p> <h3 id="section---SocialIssues">Social Issues</h3> <p>A section of your abnormal psychology course will cover how society views individuals who suffer from mental illness. You'll discuss the social stigma of people with mental illness and how it affects their ability and desire to seek treatment for their problems.</p>