The goal of the course is to provide a contemporary survey of the biological basis of neuropsychiatric dysfunction and resulting behavioral syndromes. The course will highlight mood and anxiety disorders, stress-based disorders, and schizophrenia. For each disorder, students will learn the diagnostic classifications, presenting symptomatology, underlying neurobiological dysfunctions, theories regarding etiology, and therapeutic strategies. We will directly compare the heuristic leverage provided by the long-time DSM approach with that of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) perspective.

A key thematic thread throughout the course will be the parallel evolution of our understanding of the organization and function of the brain, theories of the pathophysiological basis of neural dysfunction, and research methodologies used in the investigation of neural mechanisms involved in the control of complex behaviors.
Prereq: Honors standing; and a grade of C- or higher in Psych 2220, and Psych 2300; and Psych 3313 or Psych 3513, or a grade of B or above in Psych 3313 and Neurosc 3000 and Neuroscience major; or Grad standing.