Course Period: 10 th Feb to 24 th Mar 2025 (Tuesday 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM; Wednesday 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM; Friday 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM)
Number of Credits: 1 credit
Course Contents:
Introduction: Concept of mental health; keywords in psychopathology; historical and contemporary viewpoints on psychopathology such as abnormality versus normality
Broad aetiology: Biological, psychodynamic, sociocultural, and cognitive perspectives
Criteria for diagnosis and assessment: Uses, limitations, misuses of assigning psychiatric diagnoses such as stigma, discrimination and labelling; overview of treatment options
Discussion of (selected) symptoms/disorders as per DSM criteria: Example – depression, bipolar, addiction, anxiety-related disorders
Conclusion: Prevalent practices towards mental health including treatment and prevention; maintaining well-being despite symptoms; mental health scenario in India
What you'll learn: This course will introduce relevant concepts, theories, and research findings in the area of psychopathology and mental health. This is expected to contribute towards the general understanding of mental health.
About the Instructor: Dr. Amrita Deb is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Liberal Arts at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India. Amrita’s research in the area of psychological resilience covers risk and protective factors that stem from individual, social, and cultural components. Her work attempts to identify the wide range of favorable outcomes in the aftermath of adversities including childhood trauma and mental illness. She teaches courses on positive psychology and clinical psychology.