The course aims to present the characteristics of clinical psychology (1) as a method of approach to individuality of the individual clinical case; (2) as a discipline in which notions and knowledge coming from other branches of psychology are applied in the clinic; (3) as a set of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. In this sense the course proposes, after having developed the specificity of the clinical method, to favor the development of clinical reasoning through the application of clinical psychology to the analysis of the problems of inner life and especially to the side of mental pathology. In this sense clinical psychology will be understood as a real "pathological psychology" aimed at outlining the different "worlds" in which those who suffer from mental illness live on the basis of the knowledge developed by the phenomenological-dynamic psychopathology.

The first part of the course will be dedicated to an attempt to define clinical psychology, understood as a highly heterogeneous area. In particular, we will try to outline the various tasks and roles that the clinical psychologist is called to perform in the different institutions in which he / she can be found working (with particular attention to mental health services). A second step will be dedicated to the description of the relationships that clinical psychology has with the border disciplines and in particular with general psychology, medical psychology, psychiatry, general and clinical psychopathology, psychoanalysis. The hypothesis is that the object of clinical psychology is broadly superimposable to that of psychiatry (mental suffering in its various forms) but that the approach to this object is realized (unlike what happens in psychiatry) through diagnostic methods and therapies focused on exclusively psychological means and through a specific method: the clinical method. In the third part of the course special attention will be paid to mental suffering in its various forms (especially regarding the area of ??"serious" pathologies: psychotic and borderline area) starting from the analysis of some vulnerability devices to arrive at the diagnosis and therapeutic indication. The theoretical background of reference is constituted by the two great traditions of research on subjectivity in the field of psychic pathology: psychoanalysis and phenomenological psychopathology. Ample space will be given, as often as possible, to clinical examples.

The student must demonstrate the mastery of the basic knowledge of clinical psychology and of the clinical method with particular reference to the specificity of the method in relation to related disciplines.

The student must show that he has assimilated the notions and models used in clinical psychology, with particular regard to the most serious mental illnesses (schizophrenic area, mood disorders and serious personality disorders)

The student will have to show to be able to apply a clinical reasoning to original clinical material consisting of reports of clinical cases or clinical vignettes

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

Indications will be provided on integrative readings and bibliographies for the study of specific topics, in particular of a clinical nature.
 

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Group discussion of clinical cases

Seminars with experts

Attendance

The frequency of lessons is strongly recommended due to the applicative content of the subject

Course books

1) A.SIMS,INTRODUZIONE ALLA PSICOPATOLOGIA DESCRITTIVA, CORTINA, MILANO, 2009 Quarta Edizione. Cap. 1; Cap. 7-8-9-10: Cap.12-13-14-15; Cap. 18; Cap. 21 –  264 pp.

2) G.STANGHELLINI, M. ROSSI MONTI, PSICOLOGIA DEL PATOLOGICO. CORTINA, MILANO, 2009 – 320 pp.

3) M. ROSSI MONTI (A CURA DI), PSICOPATOLOGIA DEL PRESENTE. CRISI DELLA NOSOGRAFIA E NUOVE FORME DELLA CLINICA. ANGELI, MILANO, 2012 – 208 pp.

Recommended supplementary readings

W. BLANKENBURG, LA PERDITA DELLA EVIDENZA NATURALE, CORTINA, MILANO,

H.GRIVOIS, NASCERE ALLA FOLLIA. MAGI, ROMA, 2002

R.LAING, L’IO DIVISO, EINAUDI, TORINO, 2001