Psychosomatics (optional course)
Prerequisites: Acquirement of the notions taught in the first year of study at the course of Health Psychology and Medical Communication.
Objectives: Making the students familiar with the basic notions regarding the involvement of the psychological factor in the etiopathogenesis of somatic diseases, as well as with the possibilities of their prevention and therapeutic intervention. Knowledge of the practical modalities in which somatic diseases can be generated and maintained by psychogenic factors. Understanding of the role of the clinical psychologist in a better management of the psychosomatic patients. Knowledge of the most important psychometric instruments used in assessing the gravity of psychosomatic diseases and their evolution (in connection with quality of life). Knowledge of the main types of efficient psychotherapeutic interventions in psychosomatic diseases.
At the end of the course the student must be able to:
1. Describe the main theories, concepts and clinical manifestations characteristic to psychosomatic disorders and diseases.
2. Know the risk factors and ethiopathogenic mechanisms responsible for the onset of psychosomatic diseases and disorders.
3. Be familiar with the most important psychotherapeutic orientations in the treatment of psychosomatic disease and with their eligibility criteria.
4. Have the ability to apply psychometric instruments, in order to establish the positive diagnosis, the differential diagnosis and the prognosis in psychosomatic disorders and diseases.
Syllabus:
1. Introduction in Psychosomatics
History. Theoretical models.
Connection Neurobiology (neuromediators, hormones) – Psychology (dysfunctional emotions and cognitive styles) in the genesis of psychosomatic diseases
Recent theoretical developments in Psychosomatics and their importance in clinical practice.
2. Cardiovascular diseases (1)
Psychopathogenic variables involved in the onset and evolution of cardiovascular diseases. Description of the most prevalent PS cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, pectoral angina, cardiac failure, arrhythmias).
3. Cardiovascular diseases (2)
Psychological correlates of cardiovascular surgery (including transplantation).
Quality of life in cardiovascular diseases.
The positive role of social support in cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiac rehabilitation.
4. Respiratory diseases (1)
Psychopathogenic mechanisms in respiratory diseases (examples: COPD, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis). Psychological reactions in respiratory diseases (example: bronchial asthma).
5. Respiratory diseases (2)
The issue of adherence in respiratory diseases. Psychological intervention in respiratory diseases (opportunities and challenges). Pulmonary rehabilitation.
6. Digestive diseases (1)
Psychopathogenic mechanisms in digestive disease.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Behavior in chronic digestive diseases (examples).
7. Digestive diseases (2)
Food disorders.
The psychotherapeutic approach of patients with FGID and chronic PS digestive diseases.
8. Renal diseases
Kidney stones. Urinary tract infection. Chronic renal disease. The psychological impact of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Behavior in chronic renal disorders (examples). Behavioral modeling in renal diseases.
9. Cancer (1)
The psychological impact of cancer diagnosis. Coping with cancer.
The psychological impact of cancer treatment.
Quality of life in cancer.
10. Cancer (2)
The psychological assistance of cancer patients.
11. Dermatological diseases
Atopic dermatitis. Urticaria. Psoriasis.
Behavioral changes in dermatological diseases.
12. Rheumatic diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, Low back pain.
Behavioral changes in rheumatic diseases.
13. The role of psychotherapy in psychosomatic diseases (1)
The balance counseling – psychotherapy. The role of the clinical psychologist in the therapeutic team. Liaison psychiatry. Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
14. The role of psychotherapy in psychosomatic diseases (2)
Relaxation and hypnosis. Family therapy. Group therapy.
References:
A. Mandatory references:
1. Popa-Velea, O. (2015). Behavioral Sciences in Medicine (2nd Edition), Ed.Universitară Carol Davila, Bucureşti, (vol.2: pag.257-276, 277-287, 288-303, 304-319, 320-337).
2. Popa-Velea, O. (2023). Psychosomatics, Ed.Universitară Carol Davila, Bucureşti.
B. Optional references:
3. Malcarne, V. (2011). Coping with cancer, în Friedman, H.S. The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, pag.394-416;
4. Ginting, H., van de Ven, M., Becker, E.S., Näring, G. (2014). Type D personality is associated with health behaviors and perceived social support in individuals with coronary heart disease. Journal of Health Psychology, 21 (5): 727-737.
5. Chen, Q., Wu, C., Gao, Y., Chen, L., Liu, Y. (2015). A clinical study on the role of psychosomatic therapy in evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with anxiety-depression disorder. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 8 (9): 16613–16619.
6. Keightley, P.C., Koloski, N.A., Talley, N.J. (2015). Pathways in gut-brain communication: Evidence for distinct gut-to-brain and brain-to-gut syndromes. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49 (3): 207-214.
7. Olagunju, A.T., Campbell, E.A., Adeyemi, J.D. (2015). Interplay of anxiety and depression with quality of life in endstage renal disease. Psychosomatics, 56 (1): 67-77.Malcarne, V. (2011). Coping with cancer, în Friedman, H.S. The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, pag.394-416;
8. Tosato, S., Bonetto, C., Zanini, A., Bixio, R., Marchel, M., Pacenza, G., Galvagni, I., Cristofalo, D., Fracassi, E., Carletto, A. (2022). Clinical and psychological characteristics associated with negative beliefs and concerns about treatment necessity in rheumatic diseases. Scientific Reports, 12: 22603.
9. Tuckman, A. (2017). The potential psychological impact of skin conditions. Dermatology and Therapy, 7(Suppl 1): 53–57.
10. Fava, G.A., Cosci, F., Sonino, N. (2017). Current Psychosomatic Practice. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 86: 13-30.
Exam:
The theoretical exam will be written (25 single-choice questions).
Passing the seminar exam is a prerequisite to get into the theoretical exam (15 single-choice questions).
Objectives: Making the students familiar with the basic notions regarding the involvement of the psychological factor in the etiopathogenesis of somatic diseases, as well as with the possibilities of their prevention and therapeutic intervention. Knowledge of the practical modalities in which somatic diseases can be generated and maintained by psychogenic factors. Understanding of the role of the clinical psychologist in a better management of the psychosomatic patients. Knowledge of the most important psychometric instruments used in assessing the gravity of psychosomatic diseases and their evolution (in connection with quality of life). Knowledge of the main types of efficient psychotherapeutic interventions in psychosomatic diseases.
At the end of the course the student must be able to:
1. Describe the main theories, concepts and clinical manifestations characteristic to psychosomatic disorders and diseases.
2. Know the risk factors and ethiopathogenic mechanisms responsible for the onset of psychosomatic diseases and disorders.
3. Be familiar with the most important psychotherapeutic orientations in the treatment of psychosomatic disease and with their eligibility criteria.
4. Have the ability to apply psychometric instruments, in order to establish the positive diagnosis, the differential diagnosis and the prognosis in psychosomatic disorders and diseases.
Syllabus:
1. Introduction in Psychosomatics
History. Theoretical models.
Connection Neurobiology (neuromediators, hormones) – Psychology (dysfunctional emotions and cognitive styles) in the genesis of psychosomatic diseases
Recent theoretical developments in Psychosomatics and their importance in clinical practice.
2. Cardiovascular diseases (1)
Psychopathogenic variables involved in the onset and evolution of cardiovascular diseases. Description of the most prevalent PS cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, pectoral angina, cardiac failure, arrhythmias).
3. Cardiovascular diseases (2)
Psychological correlates of cardiovascular surgery (including transplantation).
Quality of life in cardiovascular diseases.
The positive role of social support in cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiac rehabilitation.
4. Respiratory diseases (1)
Psychopathogenic mechanisms in respiratory diseases (examples: COPD, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis). Psychological reactions in respiratory diseases (example: bronchial asthma).
5. Respiratory diseases (2)
The issue of adherence in respiratory diseases. Psychological intervention in respiratory diseases (opportunities and challenges). Pulmonary rehabilitation.
6. Digestive diseases (1)
Psychopathogenic mechanisms in digestive disease.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Behavior in chronic digestive diseases (examples).
7. Digestive diseases (2)
Food disorders.
The psychotherapeutic approach of patients with FGID and chronic PS digestive diseases.
8. Renal diseases
Kidney stones. Urinary tract infection. Chronic renal disease. The psychological impact of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Behavior in chronic renal disorders (examples). Behavioral modeling in renal diseases.
9. Cancer (1)
The psychological impact of cancer diagnosis. Coping with cancer.
The psychological impact of cancer treatment.
Quality of life in cancer.
10. Cancer (2)
The psychological assistance of cancer patients.
11. Dermatological diseases
Atopic dermatitis. Urticaria. Psoriasis.
Behavioral changes in dermatological diseases.
12. Rheumatic diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, Low back pain.
Behavioral changes in rheumatic diseases.
13. The role of psychotherapy in psychosomatic diseases (1)
The balance counseling – psychotherapy. The role of the clinical psychologist in the therapeutic team. Liaison psychiatry. Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
14. The role of psychotherapy in psychosomatic diseases (2)
Relaxation and hypnosis. Family therapy. Group therapy.
References:
A. Mandatory references:
1. Popa-Velea, O. (2015). Behavioral Sciences in Medicine (2nd Edition), Ed.Universitară Carol Davila, Bucureşti, (vol.2: pag.257-276, 277-287, 288-303, 304-319, 320-337).
2. Popa-Velea, O. (2023). Psychosomatics, Ed.Universitară Carol Davila, Bucureşti.
B. Optional references:
3. Malcarne, V. (2011). Coping with cancer, în Friedman, H.S. The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, pag.394-416;
4. Ginting, H., van de Ven, M., Becker, E.S., Näring, G. (2014). Type D personality is associated with health behaviors and perceived social support in individuals with coronary heart disease. Journal of Health Psychology, 21 (5): 727-737.
5. Chen, Q., Wu, C., Gao, Y., Chen, L., Liu, Y. (2015). A clinical study on the role of psychosomatic therapy in evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with anxiety-depression disorder. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 8 (9): 16613–16619.
6. Keightley, P.C., Koloski, N.A., Talley, N.J. (2015). Pathways in gut-brain communication: Evidence for distinct gut-to-brain and brain-to-gut syndromes. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49 (3): 207-214.
7. Olagunju, A.T., Campbell, E.A., Adeyemi, J.D. (2015). Interplay of anxiety and depression with quality of life in endstage renal disease. Psychosomatics, 56 (1): 67-77.Malcarne, V. (2011). Coping with cancer, în Friedman, H.S. The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, pag.394-416;
8. Tosato, S., Bonetto, C., Zanini, A., Bixio, R., Marchel, M., Pacenza, G., Galvagni, I., Cristofalo, D., Fracassi, E., Carletto, A. (2022). Clinical and psychological characteristics associated with negative beliefs and concerns about treatment necessity in rheumatic diseases. Scientific Reports, 12: 22603.
9. Tuckman, A. (2017). The potential psychological impact of skin conditions. Dermatology and Therapy, 7(Suppl 1): 53–57.
10. Fava, G.A., Cosci, F., Sonino, N. (2017). Current Psychosomatic Practice. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 86: 13-30.
Exam:
The theoretical exam will be written (25 single-choice questions).
Passing the seminar exam is a prerequisite to get into the theoretical exam (15 single-choice questions).
