84483 - Child Neuropsychiatry

Learning outcomes

Describe the clinical manifestations, etiology, epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, staging and management of the major neuropsychiatric disorders affecting children and adolescents, with emphasis on those most commonly encountered in the clinical practice. Identify the major diagnostic and therapeutic options for each encountered clinical scenario, and discuss their benefits and limitations. Present and critically analyze clinical cases, discuss the differential diagnosis, and formulate appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for each case (Problem-Based Learning).

Course contents

Program:

- Neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular attention to autism spectrum disorder: definition, clinic, differential diagnosis, etiopathogenesis.

- The concept of intelligence and the tools used to evaluate it.

- Epilepsy with onset in infancy, childhood, and adolescence: clinic and electroencephalographic features; etiopathogenesis; pharmacological and not pharmacological treatments; the possible neuropsychological impairment in these patients.

- Cerebral palsy: clinic, etiopathogenesis, treatment.

Readings/Bibliography

C. Edward Coffey, Roger A. Brumback (editors): Pediatric Neuropsychiatry. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons (in person and/or remotely) through PowerPoint presentations.

Attending the lessons is very important for the learning and therefore for the exam.

Assessment methods

Oral exam, consisting of two questions, aimed at evaluating the achievement of the following educational objectives:
- Knowledge of the main neuropsychiatric disorders of developmental age that were treated in class.

- Knowledge of the general concepts related to the differential diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders of developmental age that were treated in class.

The exam will be passed if the result will be al least sufficient, that is 18/30. The highest grade will be 30 cum laude and it will be obtained by answering the questions appropriately with good abilities to show and rehash the covered topics.

Gradation of the final grade:

Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, expression in an overall correct language → 18-19;
Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and ability of autonomous analysis only on purely executive matters, expression in correct language → 20-24;
Preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology → 25-29;
Basically exhaustive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and connection, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflection → 30-30L.

Each topic covered in class can be examined.

Aids will only be possible in specific cases according to the regulations in force.

Teaching tools

During the lessons, lecture notes on the topics covered will be provided to students in the form of a file with a .pdf extension.

Office hours

See the website of Annio Posar