Special Topics: Clinical Intervention
PSYC 4541-005
Spring 2013
Time: Tuesday, Thursday, 12:30-1:45
Room: Muen E431
Instructor: Dr. Tina Pittman Wagers
Phone numbers: 303-492-0257 (campus) ; 720-331-0956 (cell)
Office: Muen D446B, Office Hours: Monday 10:15-11 and 1-2
E-Mail:
Objectives: This course is a survey of clinical interventions used to treat a number of mental health disorders. The course assumes prior completion of either Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology, or a similar course at another university, the DSM system, as well as some basic ideas about assessment and theoretical orientations in the field. Accordingly, the course is designed to familiarize you with basic features of clinical interventions, research on clinical interventions, and some of the specific interventions themselves, with a particular emphasis on empirically supported treatments currently in use for anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders and schizophrenia and a few others we will choose to examine as a class.
We will accomplish our goals via readings, video portrayals of the interventions, class discussions, small group projects and written homework assignments. Additionally, there will be two short tests and one final paper for the class.
Readings: Readings from this course are posted on the wiki. There is no textbook for this course (so far) though several chapters that you will be reading come from two books: Introduction to Clinical Psychology (7th Edition) by Kramer, Bernstein and Phares, and Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders (4th edition) by David Barlow. You will also be reading a variety of articles that will be posted on the class wiki, and viewing some videos posted on the wiki as well. There may be some additional readings not on the syllabus that will be posted on the wiki during the semester. Please read the assigned readings before attending lectures on the topic. (Power point presentations will be kept to a minimum for this class!) Homework assignments and readings will be available at psych.colorado.edu under course wikis. Check it regularly for updates on readings and announcements. User name for the wiki is “4541wagers” and password is “clinint.”
Assignments: Your grade for this class is based on a combination of in-class assignments, tests and homework assignments, as well as participation and leading discussions, which require that you attend class, participate, and keep up with the readings and lectures each week. There is also a final paper, due April 11th (first draft is due April 4th). A list of potential topics and guidelines for the paper will be posted on the wiki. For the tests, I will give you a list of short-answer questions beforehand, from which a smaller number of test questions will be taken. For student-led discussions, groups of 3 students will be assigned to lead the discussion of the reading(s) for the week. Students need to have questions and observations prepared and guide us toward an understanding of the article(s)! Structuring the class this way will provide the best environment for us all to immerse ourselves in the material for this course. Sometimes the assignments are completed in class. As the class embodies the principle “Must be present to win,” you’ll need to turn these in during the class in which they are due. If you anticipate problems with these requirements, I suggest that you not take the class.
Grades: There are 100 possible points you may earn this semester. The two tests (multiple choice and short answer) count 20 points each, for a total of 40 points, the paper counts 20 points, and there are several homework and in-class assignments that comprise the remaining 40 points. Leading the class discussion is worth 10 points, and there are 4 other 5- and 10- point assignments. We’ll talk more about those as the semester progresses.
Boulder Campus Student Honor Code: All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution in all their classes, including this one. Information on the Honor Code can be found at and at Adhering to the Honor Code in writing assignments includes, among other things, using your own words, and referencing, with appropriate citations, quotes that have come from another source.
Religious Holidays: Please let me know if you anticipate a conflict with assignments, or class attendance because of observance of a religious holiday or obligation and we will work something out.
Classroom Behavior: The classroom environment should be characterized by mutual respect and courtesy between students and teacher. You do your part, I’ll do mine. Let me know if there are issues/preferences that would help me treat you in a respectful manner. I’m going to tell you about one of my preferences right now. When you are here in class, I ask that you be present both physically and intellectually. If you would rather be text messaging your friends, napping, studying for another test, or Facebooking, I would prefer that you not come to class. I find such behavior distracting and disrespectful. You’d be amazed at what I notice from the front of the classroom. I cannot enforce this request 100% of the time, but if I am inclined to enforce this expectation with you one day, you might find it embarrassing, and I may ask you to complete an extra assignment.
Discrimination and Harassment: Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, see me right away so that your needs may be addressed.
Disability: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please see me right away and provide a letter from Disability Services so that your needs may be addressed. If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see guidelines at:
WeekClass DatesTopicAssigned Readings
1Jan 15, 17Basic FeaturesKramer et al, Ch. 6 of Clinical Intervention How to Lead a Class Discussion
Jamison chapter
Assignment: Small/large group discussions on Thursday - topics on wiki
2*Jan 22, 24Assessment, Kramer et al, Ch. 3
Clinical Judgment and
Decision Making
Assignment: Discussion of reading, assessment role-play and video clips
3*Jan 29, 31Evidence Based andKramer et al, Ch. 10
Empirically Supported Kazdin article
Treatments Dimidjian article
Assignment: Class discussion of helpful/harmful interventions
4*Feb 5,7Psychodynamic andKramer et al, Ch. 7
Humanistic TxIPT chapter
Assignment: Describe differences in IPT, humanistic, psychodynamic approaches
5*Feb 12, 14Behavioral and Kramer et al, Ch. 8
Cognitive Behavioral What is CBT?
Interventions
Assignment: Keep a thought record due 2/19 (5 pts)
6*Feb 19, 21Behavioral Activation BA for Depression
for DepressionDimidjian et al 2006 article
Assignment: Mood ratings for a week; observations about the connection between mood and activities; brief statement about the differences between CBT and BA. Due 2/26. (10 pts)
7 Feb 26, 28 CBT for Substance AbuseBarlow Ch. 13
Guest speaker: Dr. Vyga Kaufman
2/26.
Motivational Interviewing DVD 2/28
8 March 5,7Exposure Therapy for AnxietyBarlow, Ch. 1
Disorders
Guest speaker: Lauren Landy (3/7)
Video: Reid Wilson DVD
Assignment: Write an exposure protocol due 3/12 (5 pts)
9March 12, 14REVIEW AND MID-TERM 3/14
10*March 19, 21Mindfulness-Based Baer and Krietemeyer Interventions; ACT
Videos: Kabat-Zinn, Hayes
Assignment: Mindfulness exercises and debriefing
11*March 26, 28SPRING BREAK!!! Yee-ha!
12*April 2,4Dialectical Behavior TherapyLinehan DBT chapter
Guest speaker: Courtney Stevens
(4/14)NY Times Linehan article
Video: Linehan
1st draft of paper due 4/4
13*April 9, 11Couple, Family and GroupKramer et al, Ch. 9
Interventions
Video: Christensen and Edgette
Assignment: Compare/contrast the family and couple interventions you’ve watched in terms of the degree to which they achieved general goals of couple/family therapy from Ch. 9 (10 pts)
Final draft of paper due 4/11
14*April 16, 18Internet-Based Approaches to PsychotherapyTBD
15*April 23, 25Class choice: Schizophrenia, Eating Disorders, Positive Psych interventions, MBCT and/or another topic
16April 30, May 2Wrap-up, review, FCQs
Final exam: Tuesday May 7, 1:30-4 p.m.