B2809 - Practicum Training 6 CFU - Internal (C2)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the activity the student - Is able to adjust the application of the technique (procedures and/or tools) because of the objective in the service of which it is employed. - Is able to identify the professional resources to be employed - Is able to define and manage the contingency of their use - Is able to establish the methods of verification, to manage the critical issues that may arise - Is able to analyze, promote, govern and verify the relational and institutional context - through which the intervention is carried out.

Course contents

Title: Psychometric methods and tools of neuropsychological and emotional assessment for the developmental age population

N hours: 30 of supervision + 120 of independent activity (6 CFUs)

At the end of the internship project, the trainee will have the opportunity to acquire the following professional psychological skills: Reception of users, Case (individual) analysis, Selection and use of qualitative and/or quantitative assessment instruments, Design of psychological interventions, Reporting and return of results, Applications of the Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

CONTENTS

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

In particular, the contents of this internship are as follows:

a. Knowledge about the analysis of the demand of a clinical case in the developmental age; b. Knowledge and skills about the appropriate use of psychological tools and techniques for neuropsychological and emotional assessment of the clinical case (developmental age) and context; c. Knowledge about the design of a theoretically evidence-based professional intervention; d. Knowledge about process and outcome evaluation; e. Skills about report writing and restitution; f. Knowledge about deontological/ethical/legal aspects.

The trainee will be involved in the following activities:

activities carried out in the presence of the tutor will focus on the presentation of clinical cases and simulation of the various stages of case management (from the initial clinical interview to restitution). During the activities in the presence of the tutor, activities will be organized for learning, administering and scoring the main psychometric tests presented by the tutor. During the activities there will be space for reflections and discussions related to clinical cases presented by the tutor and regarding ethical/ethical aspects of the profession. The tutor's in-person activities will take place at the university clinical service SPEV (Servizio di Potenziamento Cognitivo per l’Età Evolutiva), located in Cesena (Via Rasi e Spinelli, 176, Cesena).

The activities that the trainee will carry out progressively independently with tutor supervision will be: literature analysis, report writing exercises, and intervention design based on cognitive-emotional profiles of a clinical case provided by the tutor. These activities may be carried out independently by the trainees, and periodic online meetings will be scheduled by the tutor useful for supervising the work. In any case, the tutor will always be available to the trainees to answer doubts or questions. Should the trainees wish, they will also be able to physically go to the SPEV clinical service spaces to carry out these activities.

The professional tools the trainee will acquire are as follows:


Tests for assessing developmental cognitive profile (WISC-IV_Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV; Wechsler, 2012, Raven_CPM_Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices, 2008), tests for assessing learning skills (MT3 - Advanced Clinical_Cornoldi et al, 2017; Dyslexia and Developmental Dysorthographia Assessment Battery_Sartori, Job and Tressoldi, 2007; BDE 2_Battery for Developmental Dyscalculia_ Biancardi, Bachman and Nicoletti, 2016) and executive functions (NEPSY-II ; Marit Korkman, Ursula Kirk and Sally Kemp, second edition, 2007), questionnaires for the assessment of emotional aspects and for the identification of possible internalizing and externalizing problems in developmental age (Questionnaire CBCL_Child Behavior Checklist_Achenbach, 2001; SAFA_Self-Administered Psychiatric Scales for Children and Adolescents, Cianchetti, Fancello). Techniques for conducting the clinical interview (with the child and family) and methods for conducting the restitution interview. Data analysis techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention.

Readings/Bibliography

-Vio, C., Lo Presti, G. (2014). Diagnosi dei disturbi evolutivi. Modelli, criteri diagnostici e casi clinici - Aggiornato al DSM-5. Trento: Edizioni Erickson

-Vicari, S., Caselli, M.C. (2027). Neuropsicologia dell'età evolutiva. Bologna: Il Mulino.

- Giovagnoli S., Mandolesi L., Magri S., Gualtieri L., Fabbri D., Tossani E., Benassi M. (2020). Internalizing Symptoms in Developmental Dyslexia: A Comparison Between Primary and Secondary School. Frontiers in Psychology, section Developmental Psychology, Vol 11, Art. 461, pp. 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00461.

-Handouts and supplementary materials will be provided by the tutor during the TPV.

Teaching methods

The methods used to achieve competencies include: observation and tutor shadowing, participation in discussions with the tutor and/or in teams, practical demonstrations, simulations and role playing, group activities with other trainees, activities guided and supervised by the tutor, and activities in progressive autonomy with deferred supervision by the tutor. Specifically:

a. In the presence of the tutor: Simulation of a clinical case in the developmental age (in-person and small group work): analysis of the question, identification of techniques and tools for the assessment of the neuropsychological and emotional aspects of the user and the socio-familial context, administration and scoring of the main tests used in the developmental age, interpretation of the results, report writing and simulation of restitution. Design of the intervention and identification of tools for evaluating its effectiveness (statistical analysis techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention). Structuring of informed consent and reflections related to the relationship with families/institutions.

b. In progressive autonomy with tutor supervision: Literature analysis for the identification of risk and protective factors and correlates of mental distress in the developmental population, literature analysis for the identification of methods and tools for assessment and intervention in developmental age in the presence of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with emotional problems. Report writing based on mock profiles made available to the instructor. Study and reflection on ethical/deontological aspects.

Assessment methods

The mentor will assess the skills acquired by the trainee in itinere and at the conclusion of the internship using a standardized procedure prepared by the Department of Psychology that will result in a quantitative and eligibility assessment valid for access to the Practical Assessment Test.

Teaching tools

SLIDES, SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES TO SUPPORT TEACHING

Office hours

See the website of Sara Giovagnoli