00867 - Psychiatry (AK)

Learning outcomes

The psychiatry corse provides students with the knowledge and skills required to recognize the major mental disorders and to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Upon completion of the course, students will be familiar with the fundamentals of the clinical interview, psychopathology, and the principal psychiatric disorders encountered in medical practice, both in hospital and outpatient settings.

Students will acquire knowledge of the relationships between medical and surgical conditions and mental disorders, psychosomatic medicine, and issues related to consultation-liaison psychiatry. They will be able to diagnose mental disorders and will have a basic understanding of different psychiatric subspecialties, including addiction psychiatry, psychogeriatrics, adolescent psychiatry, and eating disorders.

From a therapeutic perspective, students will be able to establish an appropriate doctor-patient relationship, use psychotropic medications competently, and understand the introductory principles of psychodynamic psychiatry.

In addition, students will gain knowledge of the legislation relevant to psychiatry and the organization of psychiatric services in Italy, enabling them to collaborate effectively with both community-based and hospital specialist mental health services.

Finally, students will become familiar with the biopsychosocial model as applied to mental disorders and with the main psychosocial and rehabilitative interventions used in psychiatric care.

Course contents

1. · A Brief History of Psychiatry; Introduction to DSM-5-TR; Organization of Psychiatric Services; Overview of Mental Health Legislation
2. · The Clinical Interview and Psychiatric Diagnosis
3. · Introduction to Psychopathology
4. · Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
5. · Mood Disorders Spectrum
6. · Anxiety Disorders Spectrum
7. · Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
8. · Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
9. · Eating Disorders in Adulthood
10. · Personality Disorders
11. · Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions
12. · Practical Psychopharmacology
13. · Suicide and Self-Harm
14. · Compulsory Psychiatric Treatment (TSO): Procedures and Clinical Cases
15. · Adolescence and Family
16. · Mental Health and Gender-Related Issues

Readings/Bibliography

• Invernizzi & Bressi. Manual of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology. McGraw-Hill. Any edition published after 2018.
• Giberti & Rossi. Manual of Psychiatry. Piccin Editore, 2023.
• Selected scientific articles provided in PDF format directly by the instructor.
• Recommended videos and audiovisual materials.

Teaching methods

1. Slides.
2. Videos.
3. Readings.
4. Role playing.

Assessment methods

Student learning is assessed through a final oral examination, designed to evaluate the acquisition of the expected knowledge and competencies. The examination aims to verify the achievement of the learning objectives described above.

Each candidate will be asked two to three open-ended questions on Psychiatry topics selected by the examination board. The purpose of the oral examination is to assess the student's ability to apply their theoretical knowledge and to demonstrate appropriate logical and deductive reasoning skills in the discussion of psychiatric concepts and clinical situations.

Limited preparation covering only a very small number of topics addressed during the course, with analytical skills emerging only with the instructor’s guidance; overall correct use of language → 18–19.

Preparation on a limited number of course topics, with the ability to perform independent analysis only on straightforward and procedural issues; correct use of terminology and language → 20–24.

Preparation on a broad range of topics covered during the course, ability to undertake independent critical analysis, and good command of subject-specific terminology → 25–29.

Comprehensive and thorough preparation of all topics covered during the course, ability to perform independent critical analysis and make connections across topics, full command of subject-specific terminology, and strong argumentative and self-reflective skills →

Teaching tools

Students with specific learning need and temporary or permanent disabilities are encouraged to contact the dedicated University service as early as possible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti) in order to agree on appropriate accommodations and support measures.

Requests for accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor at least 15 days before the examination date. The instructor will assess the suitability of the proposed measures, taking into account the course learning objectives and assessment requirements.

Office hours

See the website of Anna-Rita Atti