96172 - Methods in Clinical Psychology

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Docente: Chiara Ruini
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: M-PSI/08
  • Language: English
  • Moduli: Chiara Ruini (Modulo 1) Francesca Vescovelli (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (cod. 5829)

Learning outcomes

Methods in clinical Psychology: the course will focus on the various strategies to conduct psychological evaluations in clinical psychology, from the use of specific questionnaires to the use of structured and semi-structured interviews. The students will learn basic techniques to differentiate normal vs abnormal functioning (psychopathology) with the applications of these evaluation strategies

Course contents

The course will be articulated in two modules:

I module (Prof. Chiara Ruini)

1. Theorethical and nosographic definition of normal and abnormal functioning: mental state, cognitive functioning, emotional regulations strategies, personality styles.

2.Psychological testing in clinical psychology:Applications, scoring procedures and interpretation of results of the following instruments

-symptom questionnaires (BDI, STAI-Y, SQ etc..) and

-personality tests (Big 5, TCI, etc..);

-the behavioural and cognitive assessment techniques (battery CBA )

-well-being and personal strenghts (PWB; VIA, SWB)


II Module (Prof. Francesca Vescovelli)


3. The interview in clinical psychology: structure, phases and methodologies for conducting the interview.

4. The clinical interview: communication strategies (verbal and non-verbal communication) ; relationship dynamics in the psychological interview ( roles and interactions); motivation in the clinical interview.



Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory readings:
Graham Davey. Psychopathology: Research, Assessment and Treatment in Clinical Psychology. III Ed.Wiley‐BPS Blackwell, [2021] | ISBN 9781119679189 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119679219 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781119679226 (epub)

John Sommers-Flanagan & Rita Sommers-Flanagan: Clinical Interviewing, 6th edition. Wiley & Sons, 2016
Optional readings:

Chiara Ruini. Positive Psychology in the Clinical Domains. Research and Practice. Springer International Publishing, 2017.
ISBN978-3-319-52110-7 DOI10.1007/978-3-319-52112-1
ebook al seguente link


https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319521107
https://www.springer.com/it/book/9783319521107#

Teaching methods

Lectures with Power Point Presentation.
Case exemplifications and role-playing
team work
journal club
confrence presentations: video and scientific discussions on updated topics and reserch in clinical psychology
This is an interactive course, where students will be directly involved in group discussion on the main topics of clinical psychology and psychopathology. students will learn how to use tests and assessment tools for measuring symptoms, mental states and personal resourses of individuals.




Role playng and case discussion will be organized throughout the classes, in order to learn strategies of interventions within the clinical psychology perspective.


Active participation to the classes will allow students to learn theories and concepts of clinical methodsand to directly practice their applications in various types of interview settings (individual, organizations, institutions).

Assessment methods

The final evaluation will consist in a written test with 4 open ended questions, each one covering the various modules of teaching (definitions and charactiristics of normal vs abnormal functioning; psychological tests; theories and methods in conducting the clinical interview.


Each answer will count from 0 to 30 points (max 30) and the final score is the mathematical mean among the four question scores. Students who will provide a detailed and complete answer to the topic could have a maximum grade of 30/30 cum Laude.

Teaching tools

Video, poweir point , slides and handouts

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Ruini

See the website of Francesca Vescovelli

SDGs

Good health and well-being

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.