American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR. Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Seligman, L. (1998). Selecting Effective Treatments:  A Comprehensive, Systematic Guide to Treating Mental Disorders.  New York: Jossey-Bass.

Sperry, L., Carlson, J., and Kjos, D. (2002). Becoming an Effective Therapist. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. [Chs. 4-6 of this text, which is also used in PSYC 502, PSYC 734 and GUCO 610, will be covered in this class.]

Zimmerman,M. (1994). Interview Guide for Evaluating DSM-IV Psychiatric Disorders & the Mental Status Examination. East Greenwich, RI: Psych Products Press.

At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Understand and discuss information regarding psychopathology and mental disorders.
2. Discuss issues of diversity as they relate to mental disorders.
3. Demonstrate ability to use the DSM-IV-TR classification system of mental disorders.
4. Successfully diagnose cases using the case vignette method for individuals and families.
5. Conduct initial clinical interviews, formulate diagnoses, develop treatment plans as well as write process and progress notes from intake through termination.
6. Demonstrate an enhanced self-awareness of personal strengths, interests, and abilities.

Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade "F" is used to designate academic failure. "FN" is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs.

Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the onsite classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an eight-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most ten-week graduate distance education courses require at least ten hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.

Complete one or more written examination(s): The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary for successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students.

The questions used in this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.

There will be one final open text exam that will be application of the text. This will be due the final week of class, but will be available for the last few weeks of the course.

There are no papers due for this course, but you will be required to do case studies and hand in for grading, several times during the semester. They are no more than 2-3 pages in length.

There are rubrics in the Grading Section of the Syllabus online. You are graded strictly by them - know them. Not reading all posts and not being a visible online presence is like missing classes. Since you do not have major papers in this course, your time is expected to be used online. This is a time consuming course - a fun and informing course - but difficult. Please expect to put extra time in online.

This course is taught by case study method - be prepared to study the texts and then present your cases each week. I have taught this course many times, and this is the method that the students request time and time again. While it requires much from you, you will know your material when the course is over and will be able to use the texts for the course easily and well.

DSM Introduction Chapter

Seligman text, Chapter 1

Carlson text, Chapter 4

DSM p. 1-12; 27-37

Seligman text: None

Carlson text: Chapters 5-6

DSM: p. 39-84; p. 103-120 (Mental Disorders in Infants, Children, and Adolescence)

Seligman text: Chapter 2 (Read and take notes)

DSM: p. 85-103; p. 121-134 (Mental Disorders in Infants, Children, and Adolescence)

Seligman text: Chapter 2 (Read and take notes)

DSM: p. 679-684 Adjustment Disorders; p. 731-742 Psych Factors/Med Condition

Seligman text: Chapter 3 (Read and take notes)

DSM: p. 345-410 Mood Disorders; p. 752-753 Decision Trees;

p. 429-484 Anxiety Disorders; p. 754-755 Decision Trees

Seligman text: Chapters 4-5 (Read and take notes)

DSM: p. 191-295 Substance Abuse;

p. 663-677 (All Others)

Seligman text: Chapter 6 (Read and take notes)

Carlson text:

DSM: p. 583-595 Eating Disorders;

p. 535-582 Sexual Disorders;

p. 597-655 Sleep Disorders

Seligman text: Chapter 6 (Read and take notes)

Carlson text:

DSM: p. 485-511 Somatoform Disorders

p. 513-517 Factitious Disorders

p. 135-179 Delirium, Dementia and Amnestic Disorders

p. 181-190 Mental Disorders due to a Medical Condition

p. 746-747 Decision Tree

p. 756-757 Decision Tree

Seligman text: Chapter 7 (Read and take notes)

DSM: p. 685-729 and p. 519-535 Psychotic and Disassociative Disorders

p. 750-751 Decision Tree

Seligman text: Chapter 9

Special Conference that is ongoing throughout semester:

DSM: p. 685-729 Personality Disorders

Seligman: Chapter 8

Note: Any written assignment in this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.Com. This statement constitutes prior notice.

The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."

Course Withdrawal: The last day to withdraw from a DE course is Friday before the last full week of the course. The last day to withdraw from an on-site course is the last business day before the last class meeting.

Students with disabilities should contct:

Director of Student Services
UMUC-Europe, UNIT 29216
APO AE 09102
Or:  Im Bosseldorn 30, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
Phone: +49-6221-378-299
Email: edstudent_svc@ed.umuc.edu

Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:

Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities

Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center.

Dr. Mentzer is a family counselor/educator and professional trainer for both military and civilian sectors. She is currently working in Napoli and teaching in the UMUC-Bowie Graduate Counseling program in Europe. Dr. Mentzer's undergraduate work was taken at the University of Kansas, in Education. Her M.A. in Counseling and Human Resources was completed at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. Dr. Mentzer completed a Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology at Argosy University. Her primary focus was on family communications and attachment theory. After her residency at the Mental Research
Institute in Palo Alto, she worked as the Group Manager at the Marine Corps Camp Pendleton Mental Health Clinic in Southern California and continued all her other interests that she had collected through the years.

She currently resides in Italy with her husband and daughter (18) and her cats. Her hobbies include reading, used bookstore hunting, Macintosh computers, traveling across Europe in her VW Westy, and "being" in coffee shops around the world.