Psychopathology I

Stephanie Newman , Ph.D.  

PTY-A - 1st Year
Winter 2006

Introduction, goals and objectives

This is the first course on psychopathology in your Adult Psychotherapy curriculum and, as such, it will cover three main aspects. First, we will review factors that contribute to the development of psychological conditions. Second, we will focus on intrapsychic conflict as an operational model to understand unconscious pathology and the generation of symptoms. Finally, we will focus on specific conditions from two perspectives, one purely psychodynamic and another that integrates a psychodynamic understanding to disorders currently diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria. At the end of the course you will have a working understanding of basic concepts in the development of adult psychopathology as well as a dynamic understanding of common clinical conditions.

Classes will be conducted in a seminar format. You are encouraged to read all the material for each class and, if possible, consult additional recommended readings. Brief presentation of clinical vignettes is highly desirable as they illustrate certain aspects of psychopathology as it presents in real practice.

The readings are quite accessible. Articles and book chapters are part of the psychoanalytic literature but they apply just as well to the practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy because, regardless of the technique utilized, a sound psychodynamic formulation is at the basis of effective intervention. As the course progresses, we may add optional readings to complement the assignments.

Class schedule and reading assignments

1. Factors affecting normality and pathology I: constitution and reality.

Readings:          a. Moore and Fine - Chs. 21 & 22
                                  Page 271 and first paragraph of 272
                                  pp. 281 – 305
                              b. Goldstein, W.  “A Primer for Beginning Psychoanalysis.”  
                                  Ch. 1, pp. 1-10.

2. Factors affecting normality and pathology II: trauma and adaptation

Reading:           Moore and Fine - Chs. 23 & 24
                        Pp.  306-323

3. Concepts of psychopathology

Reading:           Brenner - Chapter VIII
                         

4. Conflict and defense

Reading:           a. Moore and Fine - Chs. 36 & 37
                            Pp.  477-493
                        b. Shapiro - Chapter 7
Optional:          Brenner - Chapter IX              

5. Symptomatology

Reading:           a. Moore and Fine - Chapter 15
                        b. Shapiro - Chapter 1 (Introduction)

6. Obsessive and hysterical styles

Reading:           Shapiro - Chapters 2 and 4

7. Paranoid style

Reading:           Shapiro - Chapter 3

8. Affective disorders

Reading:           Gabbard - Chapter 8

9. Anxiety disorders

Reading:           Gabbard – Chapter 9

10. Substance abuse disorders

Reading:           Gabbard – Chapter 12
Optional:          Dodes (the whole book)

Bibliography

Brenner, C – An elementary textbook of psychoanalysis. Anchor Books, 1973
There are several editions of this book, any edition will work for our course. This reference is the latest revised edition.

Gabbard, G – Psychodynamic psychiatry in clinical practice, 4th Ed. American Psychiatric Association, 2005.
            The 4th Edition was published this year, you can also use the 3rd edition.

Moore, BE and Fine, BD – Psychoanalysis: the major concepts. Yale University Press, 1995.
Do not confuse this book with Psychoanalytic terms and concepts by the same authors, which is also a reference for the course.

Shapiro, D – Neurotic Styles. Basic Books, 1965
            Like many older books, there are newer printings of this one

References

Dodes, LM – The heart of addiction. HarperCollins, 2002
Excellent book intended for a lay audience explaining the dynamics of addiction

Moore, BE and Fine, BD – Psychoanalytic terms and concepts. Yale University Press, 1990.
This is a good reference to keep handy for consultation on the most common psychoanalytic terms