profileLisa Cortez
  • Use your Abnormal Psychology text to read the following:
    • Chapter 1, “Looking at Abnormality,” pages 2–6. 
      • This reading will provide an orientation to major issues that shape how we define abnormality.
    • Chapter 2, “Theories and Treatment of Abnormality,” pages 25–51. 
      • This reading will introduce three distinct perspectives that can frame psychological disorders: biological, psychological, and sociocultural.
    • Use your DSM-5 text to read the following:
    • Section I, “Introduction.” 
      • This reading introduces the manual and will help you understand how it is organized.
    • Section I, “Use of the Manual.” 
      • This reading provides an orientation to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual which will be used as a reference tool and resource throughout this course and your career.
    • Article to read:
    • Miller, R. (2013). Trends and implications of proposed changes to the DSM-5 for vulnerable populations. Journal of Counseling and Development, 91(3), 359–366.
    • Internet
    • National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Mental health medications. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/index.shtml 
      • This resource provides an overview of the major classes of medications prescribed for mental health disorders. In addition, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website offers a wealth of resources bookmark it to revisit throughout the course and in the future. Explore the multimedia resources linked through the News page to supplement your learning in this course.
    • Optional – Readings
      Use Capella University Library to read the following:
    • López-Torres Hidalgo, J., López Gallardo, Y., Párraga Martínez, I., del Campo del Campo, J., Villena Ferrer, A., & Morena Rayo, S. (2016). Treatment satisfaction among patients taking antidepressant medication.Community Mental Health Journal, 52(6), 738–745.
    • Sabella, D. (2017). Antipsychotic medications. American Journal of Nursing, 117(6), 36–43.
    • Wu, C., Wang, C., Katz, A. J., & Farley, J. (2013). National trends of psychotropic medication use among patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders: Results from medical expenditure panel survey 2004–2009. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 27(2), 163–170.
    • Zhou, J., Xiang, Y.-T., Li, Q., Zhu, X., Li, W., Ungvari, G. S., . . . & Wang, X. (2016). Gender differences in attitudes towards antipsychotic medications in patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research, 245, 276–281.
    • Use the Internet to read the following:
    • American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics.Retrieved from http://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf 
      • You have encountered ethical codes for professional counseling in previous courses. Review these ethical codes as you prepare to apply diagnosis tools in this course.
    • Learning Components
      This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:
    • Identify the primary models of psychopathology.
    • Explore how a systemic view impacts the assessment process.
    • Identify how culture is a consideration for the application of assessments.
  • Toggle Drawer[u01d1] Unit 1 Discussion 1Definitions of Psychopathology
    Read the Discussion Participation Scoring Guide to learn how the instructor will evaluate your discussion participation throughout this course.
    The unit readings present several definitions of mental disorder and describe the ways in which concepts of abnormality have changed over time. For this discussion, address the following, using headings to match content in each bullet point:
    • What criteria would you use to evaluate whether a person’s behavior is normal or abnormal? Discuss both individual and systemic perspectives.
    • Explain how your own values and personal beliefs will impact the way you view some of the client’s behaviors, thoughts, or emotions as normal or abnormal. Use examples to illustrate your ideas.
    • Support your ideas with references to the course texts, articles from this learning unit, articles from the Optional Readings, or articles from peer-reviewed journals that you locate in the Capella University Library.
      Response Guidelines
      Respond to the discussion post of one other learner. What reactions do you have to the ideas the learner has presented? Include examples from your own experience to support your perspective, and raise questions to continue the dialogue.
      Learning Components
      This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:
    • Identify the primary models of psychopathology.
    • Identify how cultural differences are relevant to diagnosis.
    • Explore how a systemic view impacts the assessment process.
    • Use language appropriate for a counseling professional. 
    • Cite and reference resources, giving appropriate credit for another’s work.
    • Resources
    • Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
    • Masters in Counseling – Research Guide.
    • Capella University Library.
    • APA Style and Format.
    • How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?.
  • Toggle Drawer[u01d2] Unit 1 Discussion 2Drug Therapies
    Psychopharmacology is the field of study focused on the use of medications to impact neurological functioning and behaviors. Psychotropic medications, used in consultation with medical professionals, are tools to address the symptoms of major psychiatric disorders. As you learned in your assigned reading from the text in this unit, there are many classes and types of drugs used by medical professionals. For this discussion, select one type of drug therapy (antipsychotic, antidepressant, or antianxiety) and address the following, using headings to match content in each bullet point:
    • Specific symptoms and their intensity that would indicate a consultation may be appropriate.
    • Side effects that may interfere with taking medications as directed.
    • Potential benefits a partner or family member may notice.
    • It is highly encouraged that you create section headers for each discussion based on the required content. This helps ensure that peers and your instructor will see that you addressed all required content clearly. Support your ideas with references to the course texts, articles from this learning unit, articles from the Optional Readings, or articles from peer-reviewed journals that you locate in the Capella University Library.
      Response Guidelines
      Respond to the initial discussion post of one other learner who selected a different drug type than you. What reactions do you have to the ideas the learner has presented? Include examples from your own experience to support your perspective, and raise questions to continue the dialogue.
      Learning Components
      This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:
    • Identify the role of psychopharmacological interventions by medical professionals.
    • Explore how a systemic view impacts the assessment process.
    • Use language appropriate for a counseling professional. 
    • Cite and reference resources, giving appropriate credit for another’s work.
    • Resources
    • Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
    • Capella University Library.
    • How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?
    • Masters in Counseling – Research Guide.
    • APA Style and Format.
  • Toggle DrawerUpdates and HandoutsPeriodically, information will be posted in this space for the good of the class.
  • Toggle DrawerAsk Your InstructorThis forum was created to provide a convenient space for you to ask questions—questions about particular assignment and discussion activities, questions about the course in general, questions about expectations. If there is something that you feel you could use help with, please post your question here. Most likely, some of your classmates will have the same concern, so your post may help several learners. If you feel your question is private, please use the Messages tool found under Notifications.