PSYC 411- Introduction to Psychopathology

Introduction to Psychopathology (PSYC 411) is a 3-credit course presented over 16 weeks as part of the discipline-based Preclinical Science curriculum of St George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada. It is designed to provide a fundamental basis for understanding psychopathology. It is one of the final prerequisite courses for the thirdyear Preclinical Sciences students, and a central component of the Charter Foundation Program. The course reviews the major psychiatric disorders as defined in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The salient diagnostic features of the mental disorders are highlighted. Major theories of the etiology of mental illness are reviewed, and neurobiological correlates of abnormal behavior are emphasized. Both psychotherapeutic and biological treatment options for mental illness are covered. Clinical cases and clinical videos illustrating psychopathology are utilized to enhance learning. The course is divided into four 4-week blocks.