Course Description
Examination of child emotional and behavioral problems from a developmental psychopathology perspective, including factors that predict or maintain psychopathology, protect against the development of psychopathology, or affect the diagnosis or course of disorders.
Athena Title
Developmental Psychopathology
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to examine child psychopathology from a developmental psychopathology perspective, integrating aspects of both typical and atypical development. We will discuss the descriptive psychopathology of clinical disorders that affect children and adolescents. In addition, much of the class will be devoted to factors that predict or maintain psychopathology, protect against the development of psychopathology, or affect the course of disorders. We will define and investigate the developmental context broadly, including biological factors, family factors, and issues of social and cultural diversity (e.g., SES, race/ethnicity).
Topical Outline
1. Topics covered in this course include a theoretical introduction to the developmental psychopathology perspective, including risk and resilience. 2. We will cover issues related to assessment and diagnosis to compare developmental psychopathology with psychiatric approaches. 3. Contexts of risk will be reviewed at multiple levels of analysis, from biological to social. 4. Specific types of psychopathology discussed include depression, anxiety, substance use, externalizing disorders, and other areas.