06140 - Psychosomatics

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to develop students' knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts of psychosomatic medicine and to examine evidence-based approaches and therapeutic guidelines in psychosomatics.

Course contents

- Historical evolution of the main theoretical concepts in psychosomatics

- The multidimensional model of illness in psychosomatics. The somatization process: psychological and cognitive mechanisms.

- Personality and illness vulnerability: type A behavior, type C personality, alexithymia.

- Clinical evaluation of stress and life events.

- Physiopathology of stress-induced reactions and introductory concepts of psychoneuroendocrinology.

- Assessment methods in psychosomatic research.

- The clinical interview in psychosomatics.

- Assessment tools and measurement instruments in psychosomatics.

- Clinical psychosomatics:

• functional disorders between normality and pathology
• psychosomatic pathology according to DSM-IV and ICD-10
• the DCPR
• psychosomatic syndromes: eating disorders, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, urogenital and locomotion disorders
• psychosomatic dermatology
• chronic pain
• burnout
• mobbing

-   Therapeutical approaches in psychosomatics.

Readings/Bibliography

Essential textbook: Trombini G., Baldoni F., Psicosomatica, Bologna: Mulino, 1999.

      Baldoni F., La prospettiva psicosomatica, Bologna: Mulino, 2010.

Additional readings:

Fava G. A., Freyberger H., Psychosomatic Medicine, Madison: C. T. International Universities Press, 1998.

- Ercolani M., Malati di dolore : aspetti medici e psicologici del paziente con dolore cronico, Bologna: Zanichelli, 1997.

- Trombini G. (a cura di), Come logora curare : medici e psicologi sotto stress, Bologna: Zanichelli, 1994.

- Solano L., Tra mente e corpo: come si costruisce la salute, Milano: Raffaello Cortina, 2001.

- Todarello O., Porcelli P., Psicosomatica come paradosso: il problema della psicosomatica in psicoanalisi, Torino: Bollati Boringhieri, 1992.

- Kellner R., Psychosomatic syndromes and somatic symptoms, Washington: American Association Press, 1991.

 

Teaching methods

Lectures including clinical case presentations and role-playing.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation will consist in a written exam with open-ended questions aimed to assess students' knowledge of the topics included in the textbook and discussed in class.

Teaching tools

Slides, PC, slide projector, overhead projector.

Links to further information

http://servizi.psice.unibo.it/docenti/

Office hours

See the website of Silvana Grandi