69989 - 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

1) Introduction to psychopathology. Definition of psychopathology. Key concepts in clinical psychology to define, categorize, explain and treat the psychopathological disorders: the importance of context in defining and understanding abnormal behaviors; the continuum between normal and pathological behavior; historical and cultural relativism in defining and classifying psychopathology; the advantages and limits of diagnosis; the principle of multiple causality; the connection between the mind and the body. The functional and operational definition of mental disorder in the DSM-5.

2) The importance of conducting a systematic clinical interview in order to evaluate the patient and formulate a diagnosis. Strategies for the establishment of the relationship. Techniques to obtain clinical information. Mental status assessment of the subject through observation, conversation and inquiry. The anamnestic information of the subject.

3) Integrating cross-evaluation of the psychological functioning and higher mental functions with the longitudinal evaluation of the patient's history. Reconstruction of mental examination of the patient by observation of mental functions.

4) Personality disorders. The limits of categorical diagnoses of personality disorders. The advantages of dimensional diagnosis of personality. The integration between categorical diagnosis and dimensional diagnosis in the proposals of the the DSM-5.

5) Substance related disorders: substance use disorders (addiction and substance abuse), and substance-induced disorders (intoxication, withdrawal symptoms and mental disorders due to the intake of substances). The main types of psychotropic substances. Alcohol abuse, hypnotic sedatives, caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, opioids, cannabinoids. The craving in addiction: differential diagnosis.

6) Psychotic disorders. Schizophrenia. The prodromal, active and residual phases of symptoms. Clinical subtypes of schizophrenia: paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, residual. Differential diagnosis of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

7) Anxiety disorders. The generalized anxiety disorder. Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Agoraphobia without history of panic disorder. Phobias: social phobia and simple phobias. Acute and post-traumatic stress disorders.

8) Obsessive-compulsive disorder. The continuum of obsessive-compulsive disorder: impulse control, sexual, eating, somatoform, tic and dissociative disorders.

9) The spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders: similarities and differences with pure obsessive-compulsive disorder. Differential diagnosis of anxiety disorders.

10) Introduction to mood disorders. Major depressive, manic, hypomanic episodes. Major depressive disorder, dysthymia. Differential diagnosis with depressive personality disorder. Bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. Cyclothymia.

11) Evaluation of psychopathology according to atypical, subclinical, prodromal, residual symptoms, affective temperaments and personality traits. The concept of bipolarism on the basis of the characteristics of the emotional episode,  the age of onset,  the associated characteristics and familiarity for bipolar disorders. Differential diagnosis of mood disorders. Differential diagnosis between dementia and depression.

The course will take place during the second semester (from March to May 2015) at the Cesena Campus of the School of Psychology and Education (address: p.zza A. Moro, 90).

Readings/Bibliography

American Psychiatric Association (2013). DSM-5: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders - Fifth edtion. American Psychiatric Publishing: Arlington, VA.

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 final exam aims to assess the achievement of the main learning objectives:

- to understand the key concepts of psychopathology from the bio-psycho-social point of view;

- to recognize psychopathological signs and symptoms, framing them within the main diagnostic classifications;

- to make differential diagnosis between different psychopathological syndromes.

The exam ascertains the acquisition of the above-mentioned learning objectives by means of a written test. The use of notes or books during the test is not allowed. The test lasts one hour and it consists of 3 open questions concerning DSM diagnostic criteria of psychiatric disorders and differential diagnosis. Each question earns a maximum of 10 points. AlmaEsami registration is required to attend the test. Those who do not succeed to register their attendance to the test within the due date should report the problem to the didactic office promptly .

It is possible to view the test and ask questions to the teacher by appointment. The student has to accept/refuse the grade on AlmaEsami website and his/her presence during verbalization is not necessary. Graduating students who succeed the exam and need to verbalize the grade with urgency are invited to notify the teacher by e-mail immediately after passing the test.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint projector.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Rafanelli