AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course will explore in depth the area of clinical diagnosis, starting from an understanding of the main internationally recognized classification systems. The objective is to utilize diagnostic tools to comprehend psychological suffering and psychopathology.

Furthermore, the course aims to equip students with the ability to differentiate the field of clinical psychology from psychotherapy and psychiatry. This will be achieved through the study of specific methods and intervention models, with a focus on the clinical relationship and the analysis of the patient's request.

Various psychotherapeutic intervention models will be introduced, along with the transformative factors they activate and the effectiveness outcomes documented in the scientific literature.

The specific objectives include the analysis of the psychological dynamics underlying individual adaptation, as well as the dynamics that underlie manifestations of distress and psychopathology.

Knowledge of tools and techniques will be valuable for students—future professionals in the helping fields—to enhance their awareness and understanding, thus promoting more effective and productive collaboration among professional roles.

Students will be expected to understand the fundamental theoretical and methodological concepts of clinical psychology and to demonstrate appropriate use of the technical and scientific language specific to the discipline. Additionally, they will need to show critical thinking and reasoning skills in the analysis of any clinical material presented during the course.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, case discussions, classroom discussions.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• The Origins of Clinical Psychology: Field of inquiry, objectives, and core competencies. The relationship between basic psychology and clinical psychology.

• Defense Mechanisms in normal and pathological behavior.

• Symptom Formation: Psychoanalytic model; cognitive-behavioral model; systemic-relational model.

• General Psychopathology: Perception, Thought, Attention, Consciousness, Memory, Intelligence, Affectivity.

• Psychological Development of the Individual and clinical implications.

• Personality: Organization, development, and pathological alterations.

• Psychodiagnostics: Psychodiagnostic assessment; clinical interview; multidimensional model; psychophysiological assessment; observation; structured interviews; self-report psychodiagnostic tests; projective techniques; intelligence tests; cognitive and neuropsychological evaluation of specific functions.

• Psychodiagnostic Interview and Psychotherapeutic Interview.

• Psychotherapies: Common features and prerequisites of various types of psychotherapy; psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, systemic therapy.

• Effectiveness of Psychotherapy.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The material presented during lectures will be made available on Aulaweb

FOR FURTHER READING

Comer RJ (edited by Granieri A) Clinical Psychology, UTET, 2017

For students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) who require specific educational support, please refer to the university website: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be preceded by a self-assessment test at the end of the course, which will allow students to evaluate the level of learning achieved. The test will consist of both multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions (seven lines per answer), covering the entire course syllabus. The oral exam sessions will follow, according to the exam schedule.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The self-assessment test will verify the level of learning achieved, which will be further examined during the oral exam, where students' analytical skills and ability to frame clinical cases will also be assessed.