Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

Code:

LPSI301

Acronym:

PCA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	183	Official Curricular Structure	3	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This CU aims to contribute to the initial training of students in the field of child and adolescent psychopathology, namely by promoting knowledge about the most frequent disorders in these age groups, and their differential diagnosis. It is also intended to foster the analysis of the biopsychosocial dynamics associated with emotional disorders.

Another objective is to promote skills in assessing the presence of psychopathology and the use of the DSM 5 classification system, stimulating reflection on the ethical implications and attribution of a psychopathological diagnosis to the child or adolescent.

Learning outcomes and competences

1- Recognition of the characteristics of the more frequent psychological disorders in children and adolescents.

2- Capacity to deal with the main issues of differential diagnoses presented by the more frequent child and adolescent psychological disorders.

3- Description of the biopsychosocial factors and processes involved in the more frequent child and adolescent psychological disorders.

4- General skills of psychopathology assessment, including the selection, knowledge of applications, administration, scoring, and interpretation guidelines of some assessment instruments specifically used in clinical child and adolescent psychology, and capacity of effective handling of the DSM classification and diagnostic system and manual.

5- Acknowledgement of the ethical issues and professional conduct related with the assessment and classification of child and adolescent psychopathology.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Does not apply.

Program

I- INTRODUCTION:
1 – Allusion to general theories of psychopathology and approaches to the study of psychopathology in children and adolescents;
2 - General issues of evaluation, diagnosis and classification of psychological disorders of children and adolescents;
3 - General issues of etiology, evolution and prognosis of psychological disorders of children and adolescents

II- EVALUATION AND DIAGNOSIS:
1 - Specific age-related issues in the evaluation process;
2 - Methods and instruments for assessing psychopathology in children and adolescents;
3 - Classification systems and diagnostic.

III MAJOR PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS:
1 - Emotional disorders (mood and anxiety disorders);
2 - Disruptive behavior disorders;
3 - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder;
4 - Autistic spectrum disorders.

Mandatory literature

Eric J. Mash; Child psychopathology. ISBN: 1-57230-065-5
João Cabral Fernandes; DSM-5. ISBN: 978-972-796-347-8
Pedro Monteiro; Psicologia e psiquiatria da infância e adolescência. ISBN: 978-989-752-037-2
James N. Butcher; APA handbook of psychopathology. ISBN: 978-1-4338-2832-4 (vol.1)

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Teacher lectures.
- Video viewing and oriented exercises.
- Autonomous study and preparation of practical activities.
- Handling and familiarization with DSM-5 classification system.
- Contact with and analysis of instruments of assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology.
- Simulated practice of child and adolescent psychopathology assessment and diagnosis, based on interview and questionnaire data supplied by the teacher, and on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
- Written essay of one of these exercises (evaluation component).
- Case discussion.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Clinical psychology
Social sciences
Social sciences > Psychological sciences
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	54,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho escrito	54,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Eligibility for exams:

- To obtain frequency will have to attend at least 75% of classes;
- The exam aimed the content taught during the semester, will have to obtain a minimum grade of 10 on a scale from 0 to 20 (70% of the final grade);

- Practical component will be evaluated by two components:
1. written work carried out in a small group that involves the analysis and discussion of a clinical protocol in light of the ASEBA system and using the DSM-5 (10%) and
2. individual mini-test (20%).
In total you will have to obtain a minimum grade of 10 on a scale of 0 to 20 (30% in the final grade).

Calculation formula of final grade

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade will be assigned on a scale of 0 to 20, defined by the sum of the note obtained in each of the evaluation components:

- Exame with a weight of 70% and

- Individual miniteste and written work with a weight of 30%.

Examinations or Special Assignments are not applicable.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Does not apply.

Internship work/project

Does not apply.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Working students and other students in special circumstances will be evaluated in the same way that students in a normal situation and should take the examination, and contact the teacher at the beginning of the semester.

Classification improvement

Classification improvement: the improvement of the final classification is only possible for the exame component (70%), once, until the time of use for floowing school year, that in which they passed and the Curricular Unit has provided exame.