42448 - Differential Psychopathology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will be able to: - understand the key concepts for defining and explaining the psychopathology on the basis of bio-psycho-social perspective;  - recognize psychopathological signs and symptoms; - classify psychopathological signs and symptoms into syndromes, on the basis of diagnostic classifications; - make a differential diagnosis between the syndromes.

Course contents

Key concepts of Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology. Defining and explaining the Psychopathology. Classifying the Psychopathology: diagnosis and assessment. Mental disorders as a result of a general medical condition. Anxiety and anxiety disorders. Mood and mood disorders. Dissociation and dissociative disorders. Eating disorders. Drug use and substance-induced disorders. Sexual dysfunctions and gender identity disorders. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Psychological stress and somatoform disorders. Fictitious disorders. Sleep disorders. Impulse-control disorders not otherwise specified. Life span development: disorders of the young and old. Personality and personality disorders.

Readings/Bibliography

DSM-IV-TR. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - Text Revision, American Psychiatric Association, Masson, 2002

Fish. Psicopatologia clinica. Segni e sintomi in psichiatria. III edizione. I edizione italiana. Patricia Casey, Brendan Kelly, Centro Scientifico Editore, 2009

 

Teaching methods

The teaching methods consist of clinical case reports: the aim of this teaching method is to draw the student's attention to the key features of different psychopathological disorders.

Assessment methods

The assessment method will consist of a written exam with questions addressing the theories regarding the topics presented during the course.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Rafanelli