PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
PYC4802
EXAM BOOKLET
notes and past answers
2025
Perfectionist Notes
PRIVATE TUTOR FOR HONOURS IN PSYCHOLOGY
helping you achieve your best results
Document Contains:
links to download all artilces
notes based on 2025 prescribed resources
refined and general scope for each theme
past example answers
tips and more!
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
Contents
THEME 02: ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
General scope:................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Prescribed readings with links to download:................................................................................................................................... 4
THEME 2 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
INTRODUCTION TO PTSD ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
FOCUS POINTS NOTES: ............................................................................................................................................................ 15
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ............................................................................................................................................................. 40
THEME 03: ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 49
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders ........................................................................................................................ 49
General scope: .............................................................................................................................................................................. 49
Prescribed readings with links to download: ............................................................................................................................ 50
THEME 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
OVERVIEW OF SUBTANCE USE AND ADDICTIVE DISORDERS....................................................................................... 50
General scope:............................................................................................................................................................................... 56
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ............................................................................................................................................................. 80
THEME 04: ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
Depressive Disorders Adult Depression ................................................................................................................................... 83
Prescribed readings .................................................................................................................................................................... 83
THEME 4 ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
OVERVIEW OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS .................................................................................................................................. 84
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ........................................................................................................................................................... 108
Past exam questions: ................................................................................................................................................................... 109
THEME 5 .........................................................................................................................................................................................112
Child Abuse ....................................................................................................................................................................................112
General scope for theme 5: ......................................................................................................................................................... 112
Prescribed readings with links to download: .......................................................................................................................... 112
THEME 5 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 112
General scope:............................................................................................................................................................................. 114
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ........................................................................................................................................................... 143
Past exam questions: ................................................................................................................................................................. 145
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
Exam information from the Tutorial Letter 2025
➢ The examination consists of a three-hour examination
➢ You are expected to demonstrate your acquired skills regarding solving problems in the context of critically
engaging in psychological discourse, without having to reference your reading list.
Marking process:
➢ The primary lecturers/assessors will know that you are competent when you provide well thought through
responses to several new, unseen problems/questions during a limited time span of three hours. Four short essays
with reference to the year’s selection of themes will be the compulsory requirement for demonstrating your
academic competence in psychopathology, based on the selection of prescribed and recommended books, journal
articles, and additional material you studied throughout the year.
➢ A second examiner/assessor will review your answers to the set questions by checking for consistency in the
assessment process.
➢ Finally, an external examiner/assessor will review a representative sample of all student answers in conjunction
with the marks allocated by the primary lecturers/assessors and the course content.
Marks
➢ The examination counts 100 marks.
➢ 80% of your examination mark out of 100 contributes to your final mark for the course.
EXAM QUESTION STRUCTURE:
• You are required to answer 4 essay questions that can range between 20 and 30 marks each, with a total of 100
marks.
• You will receive four (4) questions – one for each theme.
• Your examination answers should be in essay style (with an introduction and conclusion).
• Avoid bullet points, and you do not need to add references.
Your examination answers are assessed by evaluating the following:
➢ Did you answer the question comprehensively?
➢ Did you use the prescribed literature, and your additional reading to answer the question?
➢ Have you discussed the full DSM-5 criteria and integrated them with the recommended journal articles and
books?
➢ Have you thought about the information by integrating it meaningfully in your answer?
➢ Have you introduced your answer to each question adequately by a brief introduction, which includes:
• necessary definitions of the terms you are using,
• important diagnostic criteria,
• and other important details for creating the relevant context for your discussion?
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
➢ Is your conclusion of each essay relevant to and essential for bringing your discussion to a close, by rounding it
off with an appropriately placed final conclusive comment?
Breakdown of the themes
❖ THEME 02: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Acute and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders
❖ THEME 03 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
❖ THEME 04: Depressive Disorders Adult Depression
❖ THEME 05: Child Abuse
Please take note of the nature of this booklet:
• I have gone through the 2025 resources, and isolated key information around the scope posted
on MyUnisa.
• It is up to you, to go through the resources yourself if you want more detailed information
• It is up to you, to take the information and synthesise or learn it in a way that bests suits you.
• Therefore, make notes from these notes, to assist in your ability to retain the information and
create strong answers in your own words.
• These notes are only a base for your preparation. You still need to go through resources if
you feel sections are lacking. And you still need to learn the info and present it in a discussion
for your essay exam. This is up to you.
PYC4802
EXAM BOOKLET
notes and past answers
2025
Perfectionist Notes
PRIVATE TUTOR FOR HONOURS IN PSYCHOLOGY
helping you achieve your best results
Document Contains:
links to download all artilces
notes based on 2025 prescribed resources
refined and general scope for each theme
past example answers
tips and more!
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
Contents
THEME 02: ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
General scope:................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Prescribed readings with links to download:................................................................................................................................... 4
THEME 2 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
INTRODUCTION TO PTSD ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
FOCUS POINTS NOTES: ............................................................................................................................................................ 15
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ............................................................................................................................................................. 40
THEME 03: ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 49
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders ........................................................................................................................ 49
General scope: .............................................................................................................................................................................. 49
Prescribed readings with links to download: ............................................................................................................................ 50
THEME 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
OVERVIEW OF SUBTANCE USE AND ADDICTIVE DISORDERS....................................................................................... 50
General scope:............................................................................................................................................................................... 56
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ............................................................................................................................................................. 80
THEME 04: ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
Depressive Disorders Adult Depression ................................................................................................................................... 83
Prescribed readings .................................................................................................................................................................... 83
THEME 4 ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
OVERVIEW OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS .................................................................................................................................. 84
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ........................................................................................................................................................... 108
Past exam questions: ................................................................................................................................................................... 109
THEME 5 .........................................................................................................................................................................................112
Child Abuse ....................................................................................................................................................................................112
General scope for theme 5: ......................................................................................................................................................... 112
Prescribed readings with links to download: .......................................................................................................................... 112
THEME 5 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 112
General scope:............................................................................................................................................................................. 114
PAST EXAM ANSWERS ........................................................................................................................................................... 143
Past exam questions: ................................................................................................................................................................. 145
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
Exam information from the Tutorial Letter 2025
➢ The examination consists of a three-hour examination
➢ You are expected to demonstrate your acquired skills regarding solving problems in the context of critically
engaging in psychological discourse, without having to reference your reading list.
Marking process:
➢ The primary lecturers/assessors will know that you are competent when you provide well thought through
responses to several new, unseen problems/questions during a limited time span of three hours. Four short essays
with reference to the year’s selection of themes will be the compulsory requirement for demonstrating your
academic competence in psychopathology, based on the selection of prescribed and recommended books, journal
articles, and additional material you studied throughout the year.
➢ A second examiner/assessor will review your answers to the set questions by checking for consistency in the
assessment process.
➢ Finally, an external examiner/assessor will review a representative sample of all student answers in conjunction
with the marks allocated by the primary lecturers/assessors and the course content.
Marks
➢ The examination counts 100 marks.
➢ 80% of your examination mark out of 100 contributes to your final mark for the course.
EXAM QUESTION STRUCTURE:
• You are required to answer 4 essay questions that can range between 20 and 30 marks each, with a total of 100
marks.
• You will receive four (4) questions – one for each theme.
• Your examination answers should be in essay style (with an introduction and conclusion).
• Avoid bullet points, and you do not need to add references.
Your examination answers are assessed by evaluating the following:
➢ Did you answer the question comprehensively?
➢ Did you use the prescribed literature, and your additional reading to answer the question?
➢ Have you discussed the full DSM-5 criteria and integrated them with the recommended journal articles and
books?
➢ Have you thought about the information by integrating it meaningfully in your answer?
➢ Have you introduced your answer to each question adequately by a brief introduction, which includes:
• necessary definitions of the terms you are using,
• important diagnostic criteria,
• and other important details for creating the relevant context for your discussion?
, Property of Perfectionist Notes
Plagiarism/distribution/selling/illegal use of this document will be prosecuted
➢ Is your conclusion of each essay relevant to and essential for bringing your discussion to a close, by rounding it
off with an appropriately placed final conclusive comment?
Breakdown of the themes
❖ THEME 02: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Acute and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders
❖ THEME 03 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
❖ THEME 04: Depressive Disorders Adult Depression
❖ THEME 05: Child Abuse
Please take note of the nature of this booklet:
• I have gone through the 2025 resources, and isolated key information around the scope posted
on MyUnisa.
• It is up to you, to go through the resources yourself if you want more detailed information
• It is up to you, to take the information and synthesise or learn it in a way that bests suits you.
• Therefore, make notes from these notes, to assist in your ability to retain the information and
create strong answers in your own words.
• These notes are only a base for your preparation. You still need to go through resources if
you feel sections are lacking. And you still need to learn the info and present it in a discussion
for your essay exam. This is up to you.
