PSY511 Clinical Psychopathology
PSY511 Clinical Psychopathology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
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Psychology
Selvira Draganović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The course aims to discuss the lawful aspects of mental functioning as these express themselves in various forms of mental abnormality, disorder, and distress. While treatment will be surveyed theory discussed, the primary focus of the course is descriptive, with an emphasis on psychopathology rather than intervention.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Descriptive Psychopathology The Signs and Symptoms of Behavioral Disorders. Cambridge University Press 2008. 3.• Fish's Clinical Psychopathology – signs and symptoms in psychiatry (third edition. The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2007. 4. • American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Additional Literature
2. Hersen, M., & Beidel, D. C. (Eds.). (2014). Adult psychopathology and diagnosis (seventh edition). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons,Teaching Methods
Class discussions with examples
Active tutorial sessions involving workshops on course related, in class covered topics for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress
Individual and team assignments and projects
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abnormal psychology: An historical and conceptual approach | 1. chapters 1.2.3 |
| 2 | Mental State Examination | 1. Chapters 4, 5 |
| 3 | Examination Domains:Psychopathology of everyday behaviour and general appearance | 1. chapter 6 |
| 4 | Examination Domains: Disturbances of motor function Quiz I | 1. chapter 7 |
| 5 | Examination Domains:Disturbances in emotional experience | 1. chapter 8 |
| 6 | Examination Domains: Disturbances in speech and language | 1. chapter 9 |
| 7 | Examination Domains: Perceptual disturbances | 1. chapter 10 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Examination Domains: Delusions and abnormal thought content & : Obsessive-compulsive behaviors | 1. chapter 11 |
| 10 | Examination Domains: OCD | 1. chapter 12 |
| 11 | Cognitive testing and the psychopathology of cognitive dysfunction Quiz II | 1. chapter 13 |
| 12 | Examination Domains: Personality, Abnormal trait behaviours: Personality disorder | 1. chapter 14 |
| 13 | Psychiatric syndromes, defense mechanisms and cognitive distortions | 2. Appendices I and II |
| 14 | Defense mechanism testing | |
| 15 | Wrap up |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY511.1 | Course | Wednesday 17:00 - 19:50 | A F2.13 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.3B |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Quiz 1
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
In-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quiz 2
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 6
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
10 hours ⏳ (2 week × 5 h)
Tutorials
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Home Study
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
In-term Exam Study
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Final Exam Study
40 hours ⏳ (2 week × 20 h)
Assingment/presentation
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY511] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY511 | Clinical Psychopathology | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | PSY412 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Selvira Draganović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-12:00 Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 Wednesday: 9:00-11:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| sdraganovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The course aims to discuss the lawful aspects of mental functioning as these express themselves in various forms of mental abnormality, disorder, and distress. While treatment will be surveyed theory discussed, the primary focus of the course is descriptive, with an emphasis on psychopathology rather than intervention. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Descriptive Psychopathology The Signs and Symptoms of Behavioral Disorders. Cambridge University Press 2008. 3.• Fish's Clinical Psychopathology – signs and symptoms in psychiatry (third edition. The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2007. 4. • American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Class discussions with examples. Active tutorial sessions involving workshops on course related, in class covered topics for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress. Individual and team assignments and projects. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Abnormal psychology: An historical and conceptual approach | 1. chapters 1.2.3 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Mental State Examination | 1. Chapters 4, 5 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Examination Domains:Psychopathology of everyday behaviour and general appearance | 1. chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Examination Domains: Disturbances of motor function Quiz I | 1. chapter 7 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Examination Domains:Disturbances in emotional experience | 1. chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Examination Domains: Disturbances in speech and language | 1. chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Examination Domains: Perceptual disturbances | 1. chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Examination Domains: Delusions and abnormal thought content & : Obsessive-compulsive behaviors | 1. chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Examination Domains: OCD | 1. chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Cognitive testing and the psychopathology of cognitive dysfunction Quiz II | 1. chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Examination Domains: Personality, Abnormal trait behaviours: Personality disorder | 1. chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Psychiatric syndromes, defense mechanisms and cognitive distortions | 2. Appendices I and II | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Defense mechanism testing | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Wrap up | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quiz 1 | 1 | 20 | 1, 2 | Not Allowed | |
| In-term exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 2 | 1 | 20 | 6 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 5 | 2 | 10 | |||
| Tutorials | 1 | 15 | 15 | Home Study | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| In-term Exam Study | 10 | 1 | 10 | Final Exam Study | 20 | 2 | 40 | |||
| Assingment/presentation | 8 | 2 | 16 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/09/2025 | |||||||||