B3071 - Clinical Methodology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able to: - apply fundamentals of psychological consultation; - recognize emotional, cognitive and communicative aspects of the clinical relationship; - assess the patient in a biopsychosocial perspective; - assess context of couple, family and social relationships.

Course contents

Module 1/2 Dr. Sara GOSTOLI (45 hours)

• Introduction to Clinical Methodology. Symptom-centered and insight-oriented clinical interview. Ingredients of the clinical interview. Multiphasic approach. Specific-disease interview. Clinical setting.
• Strategies to build, monitor and maintain clinical (patient/psychologist) relationship.
• Techniques for obtaining clinical information.
• Methods for mental state evaluation.
• The phases of the diagnostic process.
  
• Examples of assessment processes focused on specific diseases, based on DSM-5 criteria.
• Integration with psychometric tests.
• Clinical case formulation.

Module 1/1 Dr. Roberto CATTIVELLI (15 hours)

• Psychological distress and brief mention of the classification of pathology in clinical psychology.
• The DSM and ICD perspective with a brief focus on the evolution of diagnostic systems.
• The Process-Based approach as a perspective for psychological interventions.
• The psychological process underlying specific forms of distress.
• Hints at some particularly relevant psychological and psychopathological processes and impact on the design and evaluation of interventions.
• Hints at the theoretical models underlying cognitive-behavioral psychological interventions.
• The process of selecting clinical interventions in relation to evidence.
• Perspectives on integrating the Process-Based Therapy approach into clinical practices.

The course will take place during the first semester (from September to November 2023) at the Cesena Campus of the School of Psychology and Education (address: p.zza A. Moro, 90).

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1/2 Dr. Gostoli

• Othmer E., Othmer S.C. L’intervista clinica con il DSM-IV-TR. Milano: Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2004. [CHAPTERS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9]
• Nussbaum, A.M. L’esame diagnostico con il DSM-5. Milano: Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2014. [CHAPTERS: 6, 11, 12, 13]
• Additional bibliography will be recommended by the teacher during classes and uploaded on Virtuale.

Recommended reading:

American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5-TR: Manuale diagnostico e statistico dei disturbi mentali - Quinta edizione (Text Revision). Milano: Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2023.

 

Module 1/1 Dr. Cattivelli

Recommended reading:

Hayes, S. C., & Hofmann, S. G. (Ed. Italiana). (2020). PROCESS-BASED CBT. I processi e le competenze cliniche di base della terapia cognitivo-comportamentale. Giovanni FIORITI Editore

Teaching methods

Lectures, discussion of clinical cases and practical exercises.

Although not mandatory, attendance to classes is very important to be able to fully acquire the fundamentals of clinical interviewing through clinical examples, role-playing techniques, PowerPoint on the topics and teachers’ advices for further reading.

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of a written test, which involves three open questions on the topics discussed during classes and summarized in the section “Course contents”. The questions have to be answered in 60 minutes.

All the 3 questions must be answered sufficiently to pass the exam with at least the minimum grade (18/30). The highest marks (30/30 and 30L/30) will be assigned to the tests that highlight an excellent knowledge of the topics, as well as a good capacity for synthesis, original consideration and integration between topics. The correctness and clarity of the written text and the ability to provide meaningful examples will be considered as evaluation criteria influencing positively the vote. Omissions, inaccuracies or errors, as well as off-topic answers, attempts to mask one’s own unpreparedness or copied answers will progressively penalize the exam, leading to insufficiency.

During the exam, books, vocabularies, notes, photocopies, phones, smartphones, tablets, notebooks and tools for calculation are not allowed (exceptions are possible, upon reasonable request to the teacher). It is not allowed to talk with other students during the exam.

Before the exam, it is necessary to register on ALMAESAMI website, according to established deadlines. In case of technical problems, students are required to promptly communicate the problem to the competent office. The teacher will have the right to admit them to take the exam.

Starting from the date of publication of the grades on ALMAESAMI, the students have to decide whether to accept or reject the grade within 3 days; at the end of this period of time, the teacher will proceed with the verbalization, within the following 2 days. In the event that no preference is expressed within 3 days, the grade will be automatically recorded.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, PC, PowerPoint, scientific papers.

Office hours

See the website of Sara Gostoli

See the website of Roberto Cattivelli