03084 - Clinical Psychology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the teaching course, the student: a) knows the basic concepts of explanatory theories in clinical psychology; b) knows study methods and assessment tools in clinical psychology; c) knows the etiological hypotheses of psychological disorders; d) knows the options for psychological treatment.

Course contents

The course is divided into two modules: 1) Module 1 (40 teaching hours) will be taught by Professor Laura Sirri and Module 2 (20 teaching hours) will be taught by Professor Ornella Montebarocci.

Lessons will be held during the second semester of the academic year (February-May 2024).

 

Module 1 (40 hours) - Professor Laura Sirri

• Psychopathology: description and research methods.
• Causal factors of disorders and paradigms in clinical psychology.
• Clinical evaluation and diagnosis.
• Psychological disorders.
• The main psychological treatments.

 

Module 2 (20 hours) - Professor Ornella Montebarocci

1. Basics in psychodynamics: - The unique value of subjective experience; - The unconscious and the structural model of the mind; - Psychic determinism; - The conflicting nature of our adjustment; - Setting, Resistance and Defense mechanisms.

2. Making sense of the diagnostic process in clinical psychology: - The DSM-5; - The PDM-2 and the Psychodiagnostic Chart; - The SWAP-200: a connection between research and clinic, diagnosis, and case formulation in the personality assessment.

3. Projective Technique: - The RORSCHACH: Evidence-based approach; The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) in the clinical practice.

4. Clinical interview technique: - Clinical interview with adults, children, and adolescents.

5. Contemporary Dynamic Psychotherapy: - The clinical relationship as a field of knowledge: the concepts of transference and countertransference; - The interventions of the clinical psychologist: the therapeutic continuum from interpretation to psychological support; - Main models of short- and long-term Dynamic Psychotherapy (single, couples and groups therapy).

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1 (40 hours) - Professor Laura Sirri

Hooley J.M., Butcher J.N., Nock M.K., Mineka S. (2017). Psicopatologia e psicologia clinica. Milano – Torino: Pearson Italia.

 

Module 2 (20 hours) - Professor Ornella Montebarocci

Slides presentation, lecture notes and articles of interest will be available on the University Virtuale web platform by the end of the course:

Suggested readings by Professor Montebarocci:

Lingiardi, V., Muzi, L. (2018). Il Manuale Diagnostico Psicodinamico (PDM-2): un’occasione di dialogo interdisciplinare. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia (ISSN 0390-5349), Fascicolo 4, dicembre 2018 (doi: 10.1421/92989).

Gabbard, G.O. (2015). Psichiatria psicodinamica (Quinta edizione basata sul DSM-5). Milano: Raffaello Cortina, 2020.

Westen, D., Shedler, J., Lingiardi, V. (2003). La valutazione della personalità con la SWAP-200. Raffaello Cortina, Milano pp. 37-60.

Lingiardi, V. (2018). Diagnosi e destino. Giulio Einaudi Editore.

Lingiardi, V. (2002). I meccanismi di difesa. Teoria, valutazione, clinica. Ed. Raffaello Cortina Editore.

Il test di Rorschach (2019). Applicazioni e ambiti di intervento nel terzo millennio. Luciano Giromini e Alessandro Zennaro (a cura di). Ed. Il Mulino.

Baker, P. (1990). Il colloquio clinico con i bambini e gli adolescenti. Casa Editrice Astrolabio.

Teaching methods

Lectures with case exemplifications and critical analysis. Students’ active participation during classes is essential to the learning process. The teaching material will be available on the Virtuale online platform.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation is a written exam consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions (20 concerning Module 1 contents and 10 concerning Module 2 contents) plus and an additional question for cum Laude grade.

For each question four possible answers are provided, only one of which is correct.

For each correct answer 1 point is awarded.

For each wrong or missing answer 0 points are awarded.

The minimum score needed to pass the exam is 18, which is achieved with 18 correct answers.

The maximum achievable score is 30 cum laude, which is achieved with 31 correct answers.

The exam will last for 30 minutes.

The test will be delivered through the EOL online platform (www.eol.unibo.it) accessible with Unibo credentials. For this reason, students must bring their own computer/tablet/device to take the test during the scheduled dates.

To take the exam, it is necessary to register for the exam session on the AlmaEsami online platform (www.almaesami.unibo.it).

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides, PC, projector, overhead projector, and scientific articles.

Office hours

See the website of Laura Sirri

See the website of Ornella Montebarocci