Psychopathology, Drugs and Crime, 7.5 credits

Aims and objectives

General aims for first cycle education

First-cycle courses and study programmes shall develop:

• the ability of students to make independent and critical assessments
• the ability of students to identify, formulate and solve problems autonomously, and
• the preparedness of students to deal with changes in working life.

In addition to knowledge and skills in their field of study, students shall develop the ability to:

• gather and interpret information at a scholarly level
• stay abreast of the development of knowledge, and
• communicate their knowledge to others, including those who lack specialist knowledge in the field.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 8)

Course objectives

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Describe and explain basic concepts related to psychopathology and developmental psychopathology.
• Describe and explain how common psychopathologies/psychiatric diagnoses are related to various forms of crime and other types of antisocial behaviors as well as how these relations may be moderated by age, gender, and ethnicity.
• Describe and explain how common drugs are related to various forms of crime and other types of antisocial behaviors and how these relations may be moderated by age, gender, and ethnicity.
• Describe and critically assess common approaches used to assess mental health, diagnosis and drug use.
• Describe and evaluate common research methodologies used within the field.
• Compare and evaluate presentations of psychopathologies/psychiatric diagnoses and drugs and their relation to various forms of crime and other types of antisocial behaviors in fiction and the media with theories and research based knowledge.
• Analyze and suggest how knowledge about psychopathologies/diagnoses and drugs and their relation to various forms of crime and other types of antisocial behaviors can be used in developing effective interventions, including crime preventive and safety promoting strategies.

Main content of the course

This course deals with the central concepts and research methodologies commonly used in the field. The course also involves an orientation in current research in the field including research on various forms of psychopathology over the life-span (e.g., child disorders such as ADHD, and adult disorders such as personality disorders, etc.) and drug use (with an emphasis on alcohol) in relation to crime. The course involves discussions about how this kind of research differs from the presentations of psychopathology and drugs in relation to crime, and especially violent crime, in the media and other non-scientific sources and how insights from this research can be used in developing effective crime prevention strategies. A general focus is that the students should practice the ability to apply the knowledge on realistic cases and situations.

Teaching methods

The course is held in English. Teaching may be conducted in the form of lectures, oral presentations, exercises, and seminars. Independent studies as well as studies in groups according to instruction form a significant part of the course. Several elements within the course are mandatory and will be specified at the beginning of the course. In the case of absence from mandatory components of the course, see study guide for further information.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Examination methods

Psychopathology, Drugs, and Crime I, 5 credits (Code: A001)
Written examination

Psychopathology, Drugs, and Crime II, 2.5 credits (Code: A002)
Written assignments and seminars

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other forms of examinations.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Grades

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

In accordance with university regulations regarding grading systems for first and second-cycle courses (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades shall be used: Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). For courses that are included in an international Master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the grading scale of A-F shall be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds.

Grades used on course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Psychopathology, Drugs, and Crime I
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Psychopathology, Drugs, and Crime II
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Comments on grades

To obtain a passing grade for the course as a whole, a minimum of grade E is required for all components on the course. To arrive at a course grade, the grades awarded for each examination assignment, grades A-E, are first converted to the numerical values 5-1. An average value is then calculated, also taking into account the number of credits for each examination in relation to the total number of credits for the course. The course grade is thus awarded by means of a weighted average of the examination assignments included on the course.

Specific entry requirements

One year full-time studies in behavioural and/or social sciences.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Transfer of credits for previous studies

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

Other provisions

The course is given in English.

Re-examination:
1. A student who fails has the right to sit a new examination. In the normal case an additional opportunity is given after the ordinary examination.
2. For a course that has been cancelled or significantly changed in content or scope, there may be examinations on three occasions within 12-18 months after the changes have been made.
3. A student who has failed an exam for a certain course or part of course on two occasions have the right to request the head of the department to appoint another examiner.
4. A student who has been awarded the grade Pass on a specific course will not be given a new exam in order to achieve the grade Pass with Distinction.
5. Exams and assignments that are handed in too late will not be graded.

Transitional provisions

For further information, see number 2 under Other Provisions, Re-examination.

Reading list and other teaching materials

Required Reading

Colins, F., Olivier & Andershed, Henrik (2015)
The DSM-5 with limited prosocial emotions specifier for conduct disorder among detained girls
Law and Human Behavior, 39(2), 198-207

Dingwall, Gavin (2015)
Alcohol and crime
London: Routledge, 232 pages

Frogner, Louise, Gibson, L., Chris, Andershed, Anna-Karin & Andershed, Henrik (2016)
Childhood psychopathic personality and callous-unemotional traits in the prediction of conduct problems
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry., http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ ort0000205

Larsson, Henrik, Tuvblad, Catherine, Rijsdijk, V., Fruhling, Andershed, Henrik, Grann,
Martin & Lichtenstein, Paul (2007)
A common genetic factor explains the association between psychopathic personality and antisocial behavior
Psychological Medicine, 37(1), 15-26

Schug, Robert A. & Fradella, Henry F. (2015)
Mental illness and crime
Los Angeles: SAGE, 573 pages

Articles and other material, maximum 500 pages, will be added as mandatory literature and specified in the study guide at the beginning of the course.