The course will provide an overview of psychological development, comparing normal and problematic trajectories. It will present the main clinical disorders common in childhood (from first childhood to pre-adolescence), as well as their relational matrix and links with the aspects of context. The main authors and the main psychopathological theories of development will be presented.
The teaching aims to provide a framework of developmental psychopathology focusing on the concept of normality and pathology in an evolutionary age, the main taxonomies, and the meaning of symptoms in an evolutionary age. The teaching will provide an overview of the main disorders in an evolutionary age, presenting the lines of development, the main measures of assessment, and integrated interventions between child, family, school, and environment.
The student will be able to:
The student must adequately master the concepts of dynamic and clinical psychology.
The teaching will consist of a combination of traditional lectures with slides and video, as well as presentations and discussion of clinical cases both in small and large groups. A critical and active participation of the students will be encouraged.
- Part 1: INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY The following topic will be addressed stressing the concepts of normality and pathology in evolutionary age; the main taxonomies and the meaning of symptoms in evolutionary age; the role of attachment in developmental psychopathology; the path from psychodiagnostic consultation to psychotherapy.
- Part 2: METHODS AND MEASURES IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Particular attention will be given to the assessment of the personality in evolutionary age through clinical observation and the play procedures; projective measures; attachment assessment; verbal and non-verbal cognitive tools.
- Part 3: DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND INTERVENTION MODELS The main developmental disorders will present, such as affective, behaviorally, and functionally disorders, with particular reference to the clinical features, etiopathology, and treatment.
- Part 4: THE ROLE OF PARENTAL FUNCTIONING The following issues will be addressed including the definition of the parental functioning and its assessment; parenting and medically assisted procreation; risk factors of parental functioning, such as chronic and acute medical conditions of the child and developmental disorders; mistreatment, abuse, and lack of care.
For further requests as English bibliography, please contact the teacher at fabiola.bizzi@edu.unige.it
Ricevimento: Please, contact the teacher via email: fabiola.bizzi@edu.unige.it
FABIOLA BIZZI (President)
DONATELLA CAVANNA
CECILIA SERENA PACE (Substitute)
The second semester according to the academic calendar.
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT
The exam procedure is in written form, followed by electronic registration, normally in the subsequent appeal.
If requested, the exam can be taken in English for foreign students.
The exam is in written form with open-ended questions regarding the texts and topics presented and discussed in classes.
The students will demonstrate both that they have acquired the contents of teaching in an active and personal way and that they have learned how to communicate them using scientific language and technical terms.
Students with DSA certification, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, in compliance with the objectives of the course, take into account individual learning patterns and provide appropriate compensatory tools.
