About Course
This foundational course explores the core concepts underlying the identification and classification of mental disorders. Students will examine how mental disorders are defined across various diagnostic systems (e.g., DSM, ICD) and analyze the criteria that distinguish disordered behavior from normative psychological variation. The course will address the historical and cultural evolution of the concept of mental illness, with attention to how social, political, and scientific forces have shaped contemporary understandings.
Key characteristics of mental disorders—including cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns—will be explored in relation to functional impairment and distress. The course also critically examines the process and impact of labeling individuals with psychiatric diagnoses, considering both the clinical utility and the potential for stigma, stereotyping, and identity alteration.
Students will gain a nuanced understanding of how mental disorders are conceptualized, diagnosed, and socially constructed, and how these processes affect individuals and communities.
Course Content
Week 1: Mental disorder: Definition, Characteristics, and Labeling
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Week 2: Understanding Depression
Week 3: Triggers & Symptom-Identification
Week 4: Treatment Planning and Implementation
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