B6421 - Theory and Clinimetric Assessment of Mental Health

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will know the theoretical paradigms of mental health as a multidimensional construct and will be able to use the appropriate rating scales for a comprehensive assessment of mental health according to clinimetric criteria.

Course contents

1) Clinical psychology and psychological interviewing: an introduction

2) From quality of life to psychological well-being: conceptual and methodological perspectives for their assessment in clinical psychology.

3) The unifying concept of euthymia and its psychological evaluation.

4) The science of clinimetrics and clinimetric criteria for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs).

5) Clinimetric assessment of psychological distress.

6) Psychological suffering and mental pain: definitions and evaluation methods.

7) The concept of demoralization and its clinical distinction from major depression.

8) The clinimetric domain of psychosomatics.

9) The clinimetric domain of clinical pharmacopsychology.

The course will take place during the first semester (Academic Year 2025-2026) at the Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127, Bologna, Italy.

Readings/Bibliography

The following readings are mandatory:

1) Carrozzino, D., Christensen, K. S., Guiducci, S., Marangoni, A., Romanazzo, S., & Cosci, F. (2025). The assessment of psychological well-being in systemic sclerosis: a clinimetric validation. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 498.

2) Carrozzino, D., Patierno, C., Guidi, J., Montiel, C. B., Cao, J., Charlson, M. E., ... & Fava, G. A. (2021). Clinimetric criteria for patient-reported outcome measures. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 90(4), 222-232.

3) Carrozzino, D., Patierno, C., Pignolo, C., & Christensen, K. S. (2022). The concept of psychological distress and its assessment: A clinimetric analysis of the SCL-90-R. International Journal of Stress Management, 30(3), 235-248.

4) De Figueiredo, J. M. (1993). Depression and demoralization: phenomenologic differences and research perspectives. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 34(5), 308-311.

5) Fava, G. A., & Bech, P. (2016). The concept of euthymia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 85(1), 1-5.

6) Fava, G. A., Cosci, F., & Sonino, N. (2017). Current psychosomatic practice. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 86(1), 13-30.

7) Fava, G. A., Tomba, E., & Bech, P. (2017). Clinical pharmacopsychology: conceptual foundations and emerging tasks. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 86(3), 134-140.

8) Meerwijk, E. L., & Weiss, S. J. (2011). Toward a unifying definition of psychological pain. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 16(5), 402-412.

Scientific articles will be discussed and reviewed during classes to facilitate the co-construction of knowledge and to enhance critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Additional bibliographic references will be provided during classes.

Teaching methods

Classes will be in-person. Academic lectures will be combined with practical and discussion sessions to favor critical thinking and foster clinical reasoning. Cooperative teaching methods will be adopted and include “learning by doing” (i.e., role-playing, and workgroup presentations). Class attendance and active participation are required since they are essential elements to achieve expected learning outcomes.

Assessment methods

The exam, which consists of an interview, will be scheduled at the end of the course. Students will complete an oral exam with questions that are concerned with the clinimetric assessment of mental health.

The acquired knowledge will be evaluated based on the extent to which answers are adequate and comprehensive. Critical thinking and clinical reasoning will also be evaluated during the interview.

The highest score (i.e., 30 cum laude) will be assigned to students demonstrating not only an extensive knowledge of the topic but also the ability to provide an answer based on their critical thinking and clinical reasoning. The use of books, notes and slides is not allowed during the exam.

Please note that the final grade will be calculated as a weighted average based on the number of credits and grades obtained in the courses of “Theory and Clinimetric Assessment of Mental Health” (Prof. Danilo Carrozzino, 6 credits) and “Research Methodology and Data Analysis" (Prof. Giulia Casu, 3 credits).

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations, scientific articles, video illustrations, and worksheets will be used during classes.

For further information regarding the course of "Theory and Clinimetric Assessment of Mental Health", please send an email to: danilo.carrozzino@unibo.it

UNIVERSITY SERVICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SLD

To ensure equal learning opportunities, University services are available which offer support for students with disabilities and learning disorders, from the moment they are admitted to the University and throughout their studies.

This service addresses all students with disabilities (whether permanent or temporary), SLD, ADHD or other special educational needs related to learning disorders.

The Service supports all students experiencing a disadvantage such as to make them unable to avail fully of the educational, relational and personal growth opportunities offered by the University due to a disability, a learning disorder, a congenital or acquired pathology, or a temporary injury.

The guiding principle underlying the Service is to guarantee equal study opportunities for all, promoting the greatest possible degree of participation and autonomy of each student.

To request specific services and to apply for adaptations to teaching activities, students need to provide the Service with the certification attesting to their disability under Italian Law 104/92, and/or legal disability or SLD diagnosis under Italian Law 170/2010, or any other specialized documentation attesting to a particular pathology or disorder. They will then need to attend an introductory meeting with a member of the Service staff in order to provide more information on their particular needs and identify relevant measures and aids.

The Service can also provide support in assessing the advisability of applying for disability certification under Law 104 or diagnosis of a specific learning disorder as an opportunity to protect the student's rights and as a means of applying compensatory measures guaranteeing equal access to higher education and equal opportunities towards obtaining a degree.

For further information regarding the University Service for students with disabilities and SLD, please visit the following website:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en

Office hours

See the website of Danilo Carrozzino