Here's my notes about this exam and how to prepare.

I read the Harper Collins College Outline Series Abnormal Psychology. It wasn't the best source, but it gave me a good foundation and it was cheap. The guided learning package for this course with exam fees is over $400.00. My text was $5.00.

SparkCharts Abnormal Psychology

The best information I picked up at The Excelsior Peer network.( I steal better than I create.)

Know the five paradigms:everthing hinges on these. Psychoanalytic, Biological, Behavioral-Cognitive, Humanistic and Environmental.
Also, the treatments associated with each. A Cognitive treatment might be changing your thinking about a phobia, a Behavioral treatment might consist of "flooding" and a Psychoanalytical treatment would tie the phobia to an unconcious conflict.

Need to know legal rulings and how they've been applied : McNaghten and Durham.

Know who Kaplan, Dix, Rush, Kraeplin, Ellis, Rogers, Mesmer, Charcot, Bleuer are and what they are known for.

Know the difference between schizoid, schizotypal, and the three forms of schizophrenia. Schizoid and Schizotypal have nothing to do with Schizophrenia.

Know the Personality Disorders and each category they belong to.

Be familiar with sexual dysfunction and paraphillas.

Freud- id, ego and superego, unconcious conflicts.

Review autism, learning disabilities, mental retardation

Different forms of IQ, personality and neurological tests.

Know somaform, psychogenic, dissociative.

Know the diathesis stress model and reliability, validity in experiments and testing.

Know the DSM categories-the five Axis- Clinical, Personality, General Medical, Environmental, Overall Functioning.
Also, why some feel these categories are complete and exact and others feeling they are inadequate and stigmifying.

I used these practice exams and looked up everything I didn't recognize. Excelsior recommends the 9th edition of the Wiley book, but the Student companion sites have 15 to 30 questions per chapter for editions 8, 9 and 10. That's all the practice questions you'll need.

http://www.wiley.com/college/bcs/0471318116/wave_s.html
http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?ac...20X&bcsId=1638
http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?ac...387&bcsId=3057
From wiley.com Higher Education Site, then go to Student Companion site

These three books have a treasure trove of chapter summaries, powerpoint files, practice quizzes, web links. (in some places, I had to sign in with my name and school, but no problems getting in.

http://www.wwnorton.com/abnormal/quiz.htm

Best of luck.

__________________
Crystal King
BS Liberal Studies 3.87
Preparing for GRE
Goal Master Library Science 2009

Ambition is the Path to success,
Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.

Awesome feedback Crystal,

That was worth waiting for!

Thank you,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 139 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (15 credits - 5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (9 credits - 3 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: An UL business course of some kind.
In-progress: ENG100 English Comp (PFC)
Most Recently Completed: Tech Math I at PFC.
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (42):
- Courses (3): 1 ECE, 1 CSU, 1 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.

Thanks Crystal! This feedback is really going to come in handy.

__________________
Kate
*******
BS Psychology

Perhaps that should be added the the "Exam Resources" thread?

__________________
Brian R. Fey Sr.
M.S. - Psychology
B.S. - Criminal Justice
A.S. - Administrative Management

Shoto-Advice:
"EC"
"CCU"
"Prayer"
"A Pass is a Pass"
"Slow and Steady - Wins the Race"
“Sometimes The Easy Way Is Not Always The Best Way”
"Passing a Petersons = Conquering a CLEP -or- Defeating a DSST"
"The 5 R's of Study: Repetition - Re-Enforces - Recognition - Recall - Retention"

"Always be Ready to Release Your Mind & Incorporate the Advice of Others into Your Plans."

"Studying is much like Boiling Water, if it is not Heated Constantly it will Once Again Become Cold Water."

Other Sources of CLEP & DSST Study Material

REA Books, Comex Books, Pass Your Class Guides, Standard Deviants DVD's, Petersons Practice Exams, Dummies Books, Idiot's Guides .

Thanks for the great feedback! I have to take this next and will definitely use this guide. Thanks, Lee

Thanks for posting so much information Crystal - that was really good of you to do so! Now if only MORE people would do that... <hint hint>

Good luck with the rest of your exams!

JoAnne

Thanks everyone. Glad I could help!

Read a really fascinating book (totally optional) while I was taking this class. Psych. majors should find it really interesting. Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007...631217?ie=UTF8

Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Abnormal Psychology (Taking Sides) (Paperback)
by Richard P Halgin

I'm loving all this Psychology. Maybe I should change my major? Oops, too late.

__________________
Crystal King
BS Liberal Studies 3.87
Preparing for GRE
Goal Master Library Science 2009

Ambition is the Path to success,
Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.

I challenged this one yesterday, and got an "A". Resources I used included, IC, a ten year old Ab. Psych. text, Sparknotes, and the mp3 lectures for "Clinical Psych" by Prof. Ann Kring from the UC-Berkeley site. The lectures were very useful.
I also bought the practice tests from excelsior, and scored 77/100 both times.
This test is very straight forward.