ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY - BPS307

   

It's easy to enrol...

1
Select a payment plan: (Fee Code: S3

2
Select a learning method (What is this?): 

3
Click here to email details of this course to a friendCourses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!
Towergate welcomes Professional Indemnity applications from ACS graduates across all disciplines.

Distant Learning - Study Abnormal Psychology

It is particularly beneficial for counsellors or support workers, for it will develop their ability to distinguish different types of psychological disorder, and determine when to refer clients for treatment. It is also of interest to anyone who finds human nature fascinating. We cover why different conditions may occur, what happens in different conditions and how we can treat them.

Course Structure

There are eleven lessons in this module as follows:

  1. Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy
    • Criteria for determining abnormality
    • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
    • Childhood Disorders
    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
    • Conduct Disorder
    • Mental Retardation
    • Asperger's Disorder
    • Stereotypic Movement Disorder
    • Normal Functioning
    • Depression in Childhood
    • Anxiety Disorders
    • Types of Therapy; Alderian, Behaviourism, Existential, Gestalt, Person Centred Therapy, Psycho analysis, Rational Emotive, Reality Therapy, Transactional.
  2. Delirium, Dementia, Amnesic and Other Cognitive Disorders
    • Types of cognitive disorders
    • Delirium
    • Dementia
    • Types of Dementia
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Comparing Dementia and Delirium
    • Amnesia
    • Cognitive Disorder NOS
    • Pseudo Dementia
    • Research Methods in Biopsychology
  3. Substance-Related Disorders
    • Scope and nature of Substance Abuse
    • Reasons for Using Drugs
    • Substance Dependence
    • Intoxication and Withdrawal
    • Alcohol Dependence and DT's
    • Substance Dependence
    • Substance Abuse
    • Drug Misuse
    • Classes of Drugs
    • Amphetamines
    • Cocaine
    • Crack
    • Opium and Heroin
    • LSD
    • Other Drugs, steroids, ritalin, inhalants, etc
    • Risks with specific drugs
    • Older adults susceptible to Prescription Misuse
  4. Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
    • Scope and nature
    • Psychosis
    • Treating Psychosis
    • Schizoaffective Disorders
    • Delusional (Paranoid) Disorders
    • Onset of Schizophrenia
    • Symptoms of Schizophrenia
    • Treating Schizophrenia
    • Schizophrenia and violence
    • Biology of Schizophrenia
    • Antipsychotic Medications
    • Psychosocial Treatments
    • Role of the Patients Support System
  5. Mood Disorders
    • Depressive Disorders
    • Determining Type of Depression
    • Unipolar disorders and bipolar disorders.
    • Risk Factors for Depression
    • Men and Depression
    • Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment
    • Types of Treatment
  6. Anxiety Disorders
    • Scope and Nature
    • Anxiety Symptoms
    • Generalised anxiety disorders
    • Phobic anxiety disorders
    • Panic disorder
    • Treatments -intervention, drugs, etc.
    • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  7. Somatoform, Factitious, and Dissociative Disorders
    • Somatisation Disorder
    • Conversion Disorder
    • Pain Disorder
    • Hypochondriasis
    • Body Dysymorphic Disorder
    • Factitios Disorders; types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis
    • Munchausen's Syndrome
    • Disconnective Disorders
    • Psychogenic Amnesia
    • Psychogenic Fugue
    • Disconnective Identity Disorder
    • Depersonalisation Disorder
  8. Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
    • Scope and Nature
    • Hypoactive Sexual Disorder
    • Sexual Aversion
    • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
    • Male Erectile Disorder
    • Female and Male Orgasmic Disorders
    • Premature Ejaculation
    • Dispareunia
    • Vaginismus
    • Secondary Sexual Dysfunction
    • Paraphilia
    • Paedophilia
    • Gender Identity Disorder (Transexualism)
  9. Eating and Sleep Disorders
    • Scope and nature of Eating Disorders
    • Anorexia Nervosa
    • Bulimia
    • Binge Eating Disorder
    • Treatment Strategies
    • Research Findings and Directions
    • Sleep Disorders; scope and nature
    • Treatments for Sleep Apnoea
    • Prognosis for Sleep Apnoea
  10. Impulse-Control Disorders; Adjustment Disorder
    • Symptoms of adjustment disorders
    • Risk Factors for Adjustment Disorders
    • Impulse Control Disorders
    • Intermittent Explosive Disorder
    • Kleptomania
    • Pyromania
    • Pathological Gambling
    • Trichotillomania
    • Compulsive Skin Picking
  11. Personality Disorders
    • Scope and Nature of Personality Disorders
    • Antisocial Personality Disorder
    • Avoidant Personality Disorder
    • Dependent Personality Disorder
    • Histrionic Personality Disorder
    • Narcissistic Personality Disorder
    • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
    • Paranoid Personality Disorder
    • Schizoid Personality Disorder
    • Borderline Personality Disorder; symptoms, treatment, research, etc.

       

WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE

  • Identify disorders first prevalent under 18 years of age;
  • Describe how you would diagnose a case of suspected Autism in a child of 4 years of age;
  • Compare and contrast delirium and dementia;
  • Do an internet search for images of PET scans and MRI of brains affected by delirium or dementia include the images an essay discussing these disorders;
  • Distinguish between substance abuse disorders and substance dependence disorders;
  • Differentiate between psychotic disorders;
  • Describe briefly the subtypes of Schizophrenia;
  • Distinguish between Unipolar disorders and Bipolar disorders;
  • Outline a cognitive model of depression;
  • Describe different types of Anxiety Disorders;
  • Develop a treatment to overcome a client’s fear of spiders;
  • Distinguish between Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders;
  • Explain the primary criticisms of dissociative identity disorder;
  • Provide a diagnosis of a case study and justify your diagnosis;
  • Discuss Gender Identity Disorder, Paraphilias and Sexual Dysfunction;
  • Explain what distinguishes a preference of sexual act or object as a paraphilia;
  • Identify Eating Disorders and Sleep Disorders;
  • Explain how eating disorders develop;
  • Distinguish between Impulse Control Disorders and Adjustment disorders;
  • Develop a diagnostic table for impulse control disorders;
  • Distinguish between different types of Personality Disorder;
  • Differentiate between Narcissistic and Histrionic personality disorders.
  • Duration:  100 hours

     

     

    Want to learn more about Psychosis, such as schizophrenia, manic depression, bipolar disorder - then have a look at a brief example of the course notes below.

    "Psychosis

    You have probably heard the word psychosis, it is often used in the everyday language of the layperson to mean “very mad”. In psychology, it is a condition where the person is not in contact with reality like most people. It can take several forms including –

    • Sensing things that aren’t really there – hallucinations
    • Believing things not based on reality – delusions
    • Not realising there is anything wrong with them – lack of insight
    • Problems thinking clearly – thought insertion, withdrawal, broadcasting thoughts.

    There are a number of disorders that come under the general title of psychosis. They are all different in their symptoms, but are similar in the fact that the person is out of touch with reality. The disorders are –

    • Schizophrenia
    • Schioaffective disorder
    • Manic-depression (bipolar disorder) – this will be covered in a later lesson
    • Mania
    • Delusional (Paranoid) Disorders
    • Psychotic depression

    However, there is a lot of controversy about psychiatric classifications of psychoses. Some experts are now arguing that it is more helpful to treat people according to their specific symptoms, e.g. Hearing voices in their head, than to put them under a wide label of “schizophrenic”, which can cover a wide range of people with very different problems. People with long term psychosis often have problems looking after themselves and getting on with other people.

    It is not known what causes psychosis, but the most popular theories are –

    • It is an inherited condition
    • There is a “wiring problem” in the person’s brain.
    • There is a chemical imbalance
    • They are too anxious or stressed.
    • It is a psychological defence mechanism
    • A combination of the above.

    Psychosis is also brought on in some people by –

    • Using illegal drugs, such as LSD or cannabis
    • Brain tumours (cancer)
    • Infections such as meningitis
    • Epilepsy
    • Head injuries" (taken from our Abnormal Psychology course).

    So if you want to learn more about Abnormal Psychology - why not try this course? Not sure about Abnormal Psychology, but are interested in other areas of psychology, why not try one of our other psychology courses.

    What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?

    This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.

    If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.

    If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.

    If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.

    There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.

    Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.

    You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.

    You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.

     

    OTHER COURSES INCLUDE

    Introduction to Psychology gives you a good insight into what psychology is, psychological development, environmental influences and so on. Details can be found at -

    http://www.acsedu.co.uk/Courses/Psychology/INTRODUCTION-TO-PSYCHOLOGY-BPS101-359.aspx

    Or if you are experienced in psychology, perhaps you would like to consider a counselling course. Details on our Counselling Skills I course ca nbe found at -http://www.acsedu.co.uk/Courses/Psychology/COUNSELLING-SKILLS-l-BPS109-475.aspx

    Unsure where psychology can take you as a career? Well, psychology is useful in so many different careers today. You can find more information on careers in psychology at our careers website. Why not have a look at - http://www.thecareersguide.com/articles.aspx?category=14

    More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses

     

    Who are our tutors?

     

    Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study.  We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives.  We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.

     

    Sample Course Notes

    Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well.  We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis.  If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.

     

    What learning method should I choose?

    We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”

     

    How Long will it take to complete the course?

    This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing.  We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.

     

    Longer courses will obviously take longer.  You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”

     

    What Do Our Students think of us?

    If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.

     

    I don’t think this is the right course for me.

    If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.

     

    You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.

     

    If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk

     

    Recognition and Accreditation

    For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.

     

    Who is ACS Distance Education?

    If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”

    Home Study - Learn Abnormal Psychology

    Learn about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania, childhood disorders and much, much more...

    Understand abnormal behave as the first step towards supporting others as a professional, friend or acquaintance.

    A valuable course for anyone who wants to help and support others.

    Learn more about psychological disorders, their causes and treatments.

    Study in your time and at your own pace.

    Learn from our tutors – experts in the field.