B2809 - Practicum Training 6 CFU - Internal (C2)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the TPV, the student is able to integrate the knowledge and autonomously exercise the skills acquired in the CdS course, with particular reference to: - the appropriate choice and use of neuropsychological assessment tools for the differential diagnosis of cognitive disorders. - the drafting and return of reports of neuropsychological evaluations - acting with professional autonomy in accordance with the code of ethics

Course contents

According to the agreement between the University of Bologna and the Order of Psychologists of Emilia-Romagna of 23/6/2023 and Law 56/89, the master's degree internship has as its main objective the development of basic professional skills for prevention, diagnosis, habilitation and psychological support interventions aimed at individuals, groups, organizations and communities, as well as research in psychology

Namely, the contents of the internship are the following:

- In the presence of the tutor: In the field of neuropsychology, the following activities are planned: admission process and diagnostic interview with patients with cognitive disorders following acquired brain damage or neurological disorders, case-analysis, administration and scoring of diagnostic tests. For example, standardized neuropsychological tests will be used, including Milan Overall Dementia Assessment “MODA”, Test Battery for the examination of attention “TEA”, Attention Matrices Test, Trial Making Test, Behavioral Inattention test, Wisconsin Card Sorting test, Tower of London Test, Raven's Progressive Matrices Test, Direct and Inverse Digit Span, Buschke Fuld Test, Rey Complex Figure, Milan Language Test and rating scales and questionnaires, such as Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale (HADS), Beck depression inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Clinical reports and explanation of the results to patients will also be included in the activities. Activities will also include the planning and implementation of neuropsychological rehabilitation interventions for the functional recovery of cognitive and affective disorders resulting from injuries or degenerative diseases (for example: Visuo-acoustic multisensory stimulation for visual field disorders, Prismatic adaptation training for spatial neglect, Attention Process Training (APT) for attention disorders and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task “PASAT” for working memory disorders). In the field of applied research in neuroscience and neuropsychology, activities aimed to the evaluation of cognitive processes and their physiological correlates through the administration of behavioral tests, questionnaires, neuropsychological and psychophysiological tools including non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS, tES) and the acquisition of cerebral autonomic and electrical activity (electroencephalography) will be planned. Furthermore, the results of these activities will be used for the design, adaptation and standardization of tools for neuropsychological evaluation and rehabilitation interventions for the treatment of cognitive disorders and for the critical evaluation of the results. Discussions with the tutor and colleagues about the application of the principles of professional ethics to the collection and processing of data will also be planned.

- In progressive autonomy with the supervision of the tutor: In the field of clinical neuropsychology, admission process of patients with cognitive disorders, case-analysis, administration and scoring of diagnostic tests (see above), written reporting, planning and administration of neuropsychological rehabilitation (see above) will be planned. In the field of applied research in neuroscience and neuropsychology, activities involving the administration of behavioral tests, questionnaires, neuropsychological and psychophysiological tools including non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS, tES) and the acquisition of autonomic and electrical brain activity (electroencephalography), design and standardization of tools for neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation will be planned. Finally, activities will involve for the preparation of the informed consent form for data collection and processing for the participants.

The professional contexts of application are the following: Healthcare and research context.

The areas of intervention are the following: Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience.

The target populations of the activity are the following: Adults with acquired brain injuries or neurological disorders, Adults.

The following professional tools will be acquired: Administration and interpretation of standardized neuropsychological tests, questionnaires and scales for evaluating mood and anxiety disorders or specific cognitive abilities, sensory and cognitive stimulation tools for the functional recovery of cognitive deficits, device and software for psychophysiological measurements (for example: EEG, EMG, TMS, tES, autonomic recordings, recording of eye movements).

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific articles and other educational material provided by the tutor

Teaching methods

Observation and support of the tutor, discussions with the tutor and/or in teams, practical demonstrations, group activities with other trainees, activities guided and supervised by the tutor, activities in progressive autonomy with delayed supervision by the tutor.

The activities will take place at: Laboratories and Clinical Service of Clinical Neuropsychology at the Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Via Rasi e Spinelli 176 – Cesena.

Assessment methods

The tutor will evaluate the skills acquired by the intern during and at the end of the internship using a standardized procedure prepared by the Department of Psychology which will result in an assessment valid to access to the Practical Evaluation Test (PPV).

Teaching tools

Slides, scientific articles, standardized tests, statistical software

Office hours

See the website of Caterina Bertini

See the website of Alessio Avenanti

See the website of Silvia Gambino

See the website of Alessio Avenanti