PSYCH 215: Mental Health & Psychological Distress

This course examines the range of common psychological disorders, their characteristic symptoms, possible causes, and treatment. It takes a critical scientific and structural approach to the criteria used to define psychological distress, dysfunction, and diagnosis, the theories used to explain these phenomena, and the therapies used to treat them. The course explores a continuum of mental health, as well as contextual influences on psychological functioning and dysfunction. This course covers some of the material that was historically covered in our "Abnormal Psychology" course, and includes a critical analysis of the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). While diagnoses are covered in the course, the course does not teach students how to diagnose others - to do so requires graduate level work.