APPLIED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Course Sheet

Course code:

PSICLI008

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2021/2022

Divisions:

Cognomi H-PE

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in CLINICAL AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

Disciplinary Sector:

Clinical Psychology

Is part of:

APPLIED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Location:

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

PORCELLI PIETRO

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

102

Prerequisites:

A basic knowledge of the main models of mental and personality functioning is recommended. No preparatory constraints are however required.

Objectives

The course aims to improve students’ knowledge of
- useful and practical tools and techniques in order to conduct psychological assessment in clinical and health psychology;
- theoretical models and clinical practice in psychological interventions and psychotherapy. It will be used an approach focused in clinical practice to allow students to use theories and techniques of psychological assessment and interventions as close as possible to real-world experience.

Understanding:
- knowing and describing the theories and the use of the different instruments of psychological assessment;
- to describe the psychological determinants of psychotherapeutic treatment;
- to describe the fundamental characteristics of psychological processes within the therapeutic setting;
- to know the main theoretical models of psychotherapy.

Making judgments:
- ability to choose assessment tools that are consistent for the referral questions:
- to deepen the psychological aspects of psychotherapy;
- to link psychological constructs and therapeutic outcomes;
- to assess the effectiveness of psychotherapies.

Communication skills: the student will be able:
- to report the results deriving from psychological assessment;
able to:
- relate psychological models to treatment techniques;
- plan psychological interventions.

Contents

Introduction to psychological assessment. The following topics will be addressed: clinical interview and psychological assessment within the framework of models of the mind and theories of mental functioning, use of diagnostic information for decision making in psychotherapy and forensic psychology, description of the main instruments of psychological assessment of personality functioning.
Referral questions and psychological mindedness. Setting and psychological interventions. Definition and application of psychotherapy. Main psychotherapy models. Empirical evidence in psychotherapy: levels of evidence and epistemological problems. Common factors in psychotherapy. Clinical practice in psychotherapy.

Extended Syllabus

The course will be dedicated to the introduction of the theoretical and clinical topics of the assessment procedure in clinical, health, and forensic psychology. In particular, the following topics will be addressed: basics of clinical interview (from client’s motivation to the analysis of the helping referral to treatment planning and diagnostic report), theory of psychological assessment within the framework of the different models of mental functioning, use of diagnostic information for decision making, description of the main instruments of psychological assessment, classification of psychodiagnostic data, models of testing and assessment, writing the assessment report.

Definition and fields of application of psychological interventions and psychotherapy. Evidence on efficacy: outcome and process research. Empirical validation of psychotherapies: levels of evidence and epistemological challenges. Common factors, therapeutic alliance, Dodo verdict. Basic aspects of the main models on psychotherapy.

Recommended Bibliography

M. Grasso, B. Cordella, A.R. Pennella. L’intervento in psicologia clinica. 2.a edizione, Carocci 2016 (cap. 2, 3, 4, 5).

L. Cionini (a cura di). Modelli di psicoterapia. Carocci, Roma 2013 (Capitoli 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8).

N. Dazzi, V. Lingiardi, F. Gazzillo (a cura di). La diagnosi in psicologia clinica. Cortina 2009 (cap. 1, 3, 8, 9, 13, 18)

J.C. Wakefield. (2010). Misdiagnosing normality: Psychiatry’s failure to address the problem of false positive diagnoses of mental disorder in a changing professional environment. Journal of Mental Health, 19, 337-351. doi: 10.3109/09638237.2010.492418.

A.E. Skodol, L.C. Morey, D.S. Bender, J.M. Oldham (2015). The Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders: A Clinical Application. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172, 606-613. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14101220

Additional material:
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5. Manuale diagnostico e statistico dei disturbi mentali. Cortina 2014 (cap.8).

Part of the teaching material will be available on the e-learning platform. Further materials and slides provided by teachers will be part of the evaluation.

Teaching Methods

The course is structured in 48 hours of frontal teaching and guided practical exercises. This amount is divided into 2-3 hours lessons according to the academic calendar.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam will be constituted by one written and/or oral examination aimed to assess the knowledge, the conceptual mastery, the linguistic skills, the ability of interpretation and analysis of assessment data and psychotherapeutic processes. The exam will be evaluated on a score range from 18 to 30. A score 18-23 indicates a sufficient knowledge, 23-28 a good level of knowledge, 28-30 an excellent knowledge, "cum laude" particular abilities of analysis and
critical reasoning.

Contacts/More Information

For explanations and clarifications, the teacher is available after email scheduling.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree