The student will deepen the area of clinical applications of psychology. Specifically, she/he will familiarize herself with the clinical psychologist job, knowing the professional specifity and the methods of diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Moreover, the student will acquire the basic concept of adult and child psychopathology, that will be read through the lens of attachment theory and intersubjective dynamics between caregiver and infant.

Introduction to clinical psychology

• What is clinical psychology
• Legislation
• Diagnostic and intervention instruments

Theoretical and intervention models for clinical psychology

• Psychoanalisis
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• The role of attachment and motivational systems in child's emotional development

Psychopathology

• Adult psychopathology (schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders...)
• Child psychopathology (ADHD, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, autism, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders...)
• Psychosomatic: the role of stress in causing and maintenance of psychological disorders

Attachment theory in school

• children with attachment issues in school: operational and relational aspects

Knowledge and understanding

• basic knowledge about historical evolution of clinical psychology
• Ability to focus on the difference between the various clinical psychological approaches to understanding and curing the discomfort

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Knowledge of the methods used by the clinical psychologist
• Basic knowledge of the main adult and child psychopathological frameworks
• Knowledge of the principles of the attachment theory

Making judgements

• Ability to read the child's behavior in light of attachment theory
• Ability to assess the presence of psychopathological areas worthy of attention by an expert

Comunication skills

• Ability to explain the various psychopathological disorders
• Ability to explain the child's behavior at the light of attachment theory
• Ability to interfere with a mental health professional using a sufficiently professional language

Learing skills

• The student will have acquired ability to understand the course texts and apply the knowledge in the scholastic and educational contexts

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Course books

• Sanavio, E., Cornoldi, C. (2010). Psicologia clinica. Il Mulino: Bologna (328 pp.)
• Pallini, S. (2011). Psicologia dell'attaccamento. Processi interpersonali e valenze educative. Franco Angeli: Milano (192 pp.)
• Bombèr, L. S. (2012). Feriti dentro. Strumenti a sostegno dei bambini con difficoltà di attaccamento a scuola. Franco Angeli: Milano (261 pp.)

Assessment

Oral examination.

The evaluation criteria are as follows:
- the relevance and effectiveness of the responses with reference to the contents of the program;
- the level of the responses' articulation;
- the adequacy of the used terminology.

Each of the criteria is evaluated based on a four-level scale with equal weight assigned to each criterion.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.