PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Module CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Learning objectives concern the acquisition of adequate knowledge on the clinical psychological aspects related to neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular reference to cognitive, motivational, emotional-affective, relational and personality problems. The course aims to present the basics for understanding the psychology of atypical development with the most current references to definitions, as well as cognitive skills for assessment, the examination of the relationships between disabilities and life contexts and some methods of psychological intervention. In addition, some issues relating to specific neurodevelopmental disorders and their evolution over time will be explored, with particular attention to the psychological processes involved. The issues will specifically concern: role of clinical psychology in the study of disabilities, assessment tools

psychological interventions in disability, contexts of family and school life, fundamental principles of inclusion.

 Neurodevelopmental disorders: intellectual disabilities; autism spectrum disorders; learning disabilities; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; language delays and disturbances The causal factors: genetic, pre-natal, peri-natal and post-natal. basic knowledge of the main deficit frameworks, relative to the defining characteristics and known causes. The diagnostic and evaluation tools.

Intellectual disability (psychodiagnostic tools, multidimensional approach, enabling interventions, comorbidities)

The main syndromes associated with Intellectual Disability

The main models of psycho-educational and neuropsychological intervention

Work in multidisciplinary teams

The life contexts of the person with developmental disorders: family, school, work.

The laboratory activities will consist in carrying out group exercises, aimed at practical-guided exercise on the administration and scoring of neuropsychological tests for the assessment of cognitive functions in disability and on the main methods of memory and attention rehabilitation. Furthermore, research results, illustrative cases and viewing of films will be shown to stimulate the links between theory and practice.