The course guides students to understand and to deepen their knowledge into psychological trauma and its consequences according to the Trauma-Informed-Care paradigm. More specifically, the course facilitates a learning experience based to gain insights into the complexity of trauma, from prevention to treatment. Theories serve to stimulate critical thinking, a vision on different approaches and methods towards a trauma-informed-care perspective. Students will also learn how to address the effect of trauma on organisational culture and functioning, both in the health and social care system and in companies with a multidisciplinary vision integrating policy, Developmental Psychology, Management Sciences and Forensic Psychology. 

The module is articulated as follows:  

Week 1: Origins and development of Psychotraumatology and Emergency Psychology - Lectures introduce students to the history and development of both Psychotraumatology and Emergency Psychology highlighting similarities and differences; 

Week 2: Trauma-Informed- Care and Health and Social Care policies  -  Lectures present the principles of Trauma-Informed-Care stemming from a public health vision of psychological trauma. 

Weeks 3 and 4: Definition of psychological trauma and its impact -  Activities explores the definition of psychological trauma and the applicability into the services.  

Week 5: Traumatic processes  - Lectures focus on traumatic processes, like emotion regulation, dissociation and traumatic memory functioning.  

Weeks 6,7 and 8: Assessment, Intervention and Treatment - Activities focus on diagnostic criteria of trauma-related syndromes according to the major diagnostic classification systems. Furthermore, intervention and treatment principles will be presented along with screening and assessment of trauma.

Students are not requested to compulsorly attend other courses prior to enrolling into this course. 

- knowledge and understanding: theories and models that relevant to the detection, assessment and treatment of psychological trauma and its consequences; familiarity with trauma-informed policies .

- applying knowledge and understanding: ability to use knowledge and ideas to reason on the critical issues in psychotraumatology .

- independent judgement: being able to use knowledge to demonstrate a professional understanding of the scientific material 

- communication skills: ability to communicate with a proper scientific language

- learning skills: ability to read and understand scientific material and to apply correctly to the presented issues .

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

Activities guided by teaching assistants

Teaching

Frontal lectures, case discussion, interactive lab activities

Innovative teaching methods

The classroom as a learning environment to explore how trauma-informed organizations work and function

Attendance

Attendance is not compulsory; however, it is highly recommended.

Course books

1. Ardino, V. (2024). Il Trauma Psicologico: ricerca, clinica e policy. Carocci Editore. 

2. Ardino, V. (2024). L'approccio trauma-informed. Unicopli Editore

Assessment

Written exam: 21 closed questions and 3 open ended questions. 

Students have the possibility of integrating their written exam with a viva discussion if they have obtained a minimum of  21/30 during their written examination)

The final evaluation will be expressed in thirdy/30.

The evaluation criteria will be consistent with the learning objectives and expected outcomes descrbed above for the Course (Dublin Descriptors)

The scores are pointed according to slots listed below:

0-17: insufficient competence level

18-20: sufficient competence level 

21-23: fully sufficient competence level

24-26: good competence level

27-29: very good competence level

30-30 cum laude: excellent competence level

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.

Teaching

Frontal lectures, case discussion, lab activities

Attendance

Attendance is not compulsory; however, it is highly recommended.

Course books

1. Ardino, V. (2024). Il Trauma Psicologico: ricerca, clinica e policy. Carocci Editore. 

2. Ardino, V. (2024). L'approccio trauma-informed. Unicopli Editore

Students who are not attending classes are encouraged to read all additional material - uploaded on Blended Learning Material (video, mock exams, readings) so that they will be able to integrate topics covered during classes. 

Assessment

Written exam: 21 closed questions and 3 open ended questions. 

Students have the possibility of integrating their written exam with a viva discussion if they have obtained a minimum of  21/30 during their written examination)

The final evaluation will be expressed in thirdy/30.

The evaluation criteria will be consistent with the learning objectives and expected outcomes descrbed above for the Course (Dublin Descriptors)

The scores are pointed according to slots listed below:

0-17: insufficient competence level

18-20: sufficient competence level 

21-23: fully sufficient competence level

24-26: good competence level

27-29: very good competence level

30-30 cum laude: excellent competence level

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.

Students may request to write their exam in English