69992 - Psychological Therapy.

Learning outcomes

Students will learn basic ingredients and indications of psychotherapeutic approaches based on scientific evidence.

Course contents

The course consists of teaching modules and will take place during the first semester (from September to Dicember 2023) at the Cesena Campus, Department of Psychology.

Prof. Guidi (6 CFU):

1. Scientific evaluation of psychotherapy effectiveness. Main aspects of control and randomization.

2. Methodology and study design in psychotherapy research. How to critically understand psychotherapy studies. How to apply a psychotherapy protocol in clinical settings.

3. Process and outcome assessment. Variables linked to patient, therapist and setting.

4. Evidence-based treatments of mood disorders and bipolar spectrum disorders.

Prof. Tomba (2 CFU):

1. Theoretical Models of evidence-based psychological treatments for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder
2. Evidence-based data for psychological therapies for panic disorder and agoraphobia
3. Evidence-based data for psychological therapies for generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety
4. Evidence-based data for psychological therapies for obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

 

Dr. Cattivelli (2 CFU):

1. Process-Based Therapy [PBT] approach as a perspective for psychological interventions.
2. Impact of PBT on the design and evaluation of interventions.
3. Hints on clinical and methodological applications for the study of psychological processes and their effect on human functioning
4. Conceptualization of PBT intervention in relation to psychological variables underlying distress
5. Hints at theoretical models underlying cognitive behavioral psychological interventions
6. "Process-Based" therapeutic approaches: hints at Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [ACT]
7. Promotion of well-being through third-generation process-based cognitive-behavioral approaches

 

Readings/Bibliography

Prof. Guidi:

Fava GA, Grandi S, Rafanelli C (a cura di): Terapia psicologica. Centro Scientifico Editore, 2010 (Chapters 1,2,3,4)

Fava GA: Well-Being Therapy. Treatment manual and clinical applications. Basel, Karger, 2016.

Additional publications will be provided by Prof. Guidi.

Fava et al. Psychother Psychosom 2017;86:332-340.

Guidi et al. Psychother Psychosom 2018;87:276-284.

Fava & Guidi JAMA Psychiatry 2021;8(3):261-269.

Guidi et al. J Clin Psychiatry 2017;78(4):456-463 and/or Cosci & Fava Psychother Psychosom 2013;82:20-34.

Guidi & Fava Psychother Psychosom 2022;91:156–167.

Suggested readings Prof. Guidi:

G.A. Fava: Discontinuing antidepressant medications. New York, Oxford University Press, 2021

G.A. Fava: Uscire dalla sofferenza mentale. Roma, Tab, 2022.

J.S. Beck: Cognitive therapy: basics and beyond. New York, Guilford, 1995.

S. Stuart, M. Robertson: Interpersonal psychotherapy. London, Arnold, 2003.

A. Roth, P. Fonagy: What works for whom? 2nd Edition. New York, Guildford, 2005.

M. Williams, J. Teasdale, Z.V. Segal, J. Kabat-Zinn, M. Linehan: The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. New York, Guilford Press, 2007.

Prof. Tomba:

Systematic reviews updated at 2023 about evidence-based data for psychological therapies for specific disorders. Systematic reviews will be uploaded by Prof Tomba on Virtuale web page, Psychological Therapy course page. The systematic reviews are retrieved from Uptodate database (available for free for UNIBO students in the Library Sources, AlmaRe, UNIBO).
Fava GA, Grandi S, Rafanelli C (editors): Terapia psicologica. Centro Scientifico Editore, 2010 (chapters 5,6,7,8,9)
Fava Giovanni Andrea, Elena Tomba. Il panico. Nella trappola della paura. Il Mulino Collana: Farsi un'idea, 2013 ISBN-10: 8815244786 ISBN-13: 9788815244789

Suggested readings Prof. Tomba:
David, D., Lynn, S. J., & Montgomery, G. H. (Eds.). (2018). Evidence-based psychotherapy: The state of the science and practice. Wiley-Blackwell.

Module Dr. Cattivelli:

Additional pubblications will be provided by Dr. Cattivelli.

Suggested readings Dr. Cattivelli:
Hayes, S. C., & Hofmann, S. G. (Ed. Italiana). (2020). PROCESS-BASED CBT. I processi e le competenze cliniche di base della terapia cognitivo-comportamentale. Giovanni FIORITI Editore

 

 

Teaching methods

Lectures with case exemplifications, discussions and practical exercises. Course attendance plays a crucial role in the learning and assessing process.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation will consist in an ORAL exam and will be held based on current containment measures.

There are no mid-term evaluations.

The ORAL exam is aimed to assess the student's knowledge regarding the topics included in the textbook and discussed in classes (specific and non-specific psychotherapeutic factors, principles of the main evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches, evidence-based indications for the treatment of mental disorders, elements of dynamic psychotherapy and relational aspects in clinical psychology and psychotherapy).

The highest final mark (30/30), eventually cum laude, will reflect the comprehensiveness, adequacy and full articulation of the report. The following criteria will be considered in making corrections to the exam: relevant studies cited and described appropriately (0-16 points); clinical reasoning applied to the case presented (0-7 points); full articulation of possible therapeutic indications (0-7 points). Marks will progressively decrease based on lack of information (i.e., lack of clinical reasoning, relevant studies neither cited nor described) and/or in case of inaccurate or off-topic answers. It is mandatory to achieve a mark as high as 18/30 in every partial examination led by the professors. The final grade will represent the average of the marks of the three oral tests.

Students may register for the exam by using Almaesami. Each student will be notified by e-mail with regard to the link and specific time of the exam.

Student's identification through ID document is mandatory.
The final mark will be published on ALMAESAMI.

Teaching tools

Slides, PC, slide projector, overhead projector and research scientific articles

Office hours

See the website of Jenny Guidi

See the website of Elena Tomba

See the website of Roberto Cattivelli