ORGANISATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND NETWORKING

Module Psychiatry II

ACCORDING TO THE FIVE DUBLIN DESCRIPTORS

1. Knowledge and Understanding

The student is expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the clinical features, course, and outcomes of the main psychiatric disorders, with particular reference to psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and personality disorders;

• the main diagnostic classification systems currently used in psychiatry, with particular reference to the DSM-5-TR and to th ICD-11;

• the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors involved in the onset, course, and prognosis of psychiatric disorders;

• the relationship between psychopathological symptoms, personal and social functioning, disability, and quality of life;

• the principles of integrated treatment of psychiatric disorders, with particular attention to the integration of pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, psychosocial, and rehabilitation interventions;

• the concepts of recovery, remission, functioning, and psychosocial rehabilitation as applied to the main psychiatric disorders.

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding

The student is expected to be able to:

• apply clinical and psychopathological knowledge to the analysis of representative cases of the main psychiatric disorders;

• identify clinically relevant elements for the assessment of the individual's functioning and rehabilitation needs;

• identify the impact of psychiatric symptoms on personal autonomy, interpersonal relationships, and social, family, educational, and occupational functioning;

• relate the clinical features and course of the disorder to the overall goals of the therapeutic and rehabilitation plan.

3. Making Judgements

The student is expected to demonstrate the ability to:

• critically analyse clinical, psychopathological, and functional information concerning individuals with psychiatric disorders;

• distinguish symptomatic aspects from those related to disability and psychosocial functioning;

• identify the main risk and protective factors that may influence the clinical course and rehabilitation process;

• recognise, within the scope of their professional competencies, the main clinical issues requiring assessment and intervention by the multidisciplinary team;

• develop a critical assessment of clinical issues while respecting ethical principles and the dignity, autonomy, and rights of the person receiving care.

4. Communication Skills

The student is expected to be able to:

• correctly use clinical, psychopathological, and rehabilitation terminology;

• clearly and systematically describe the clinically and functionally relevant aspects of a psychiatric case;

• communicate effectively with the different professionals within the multidisciplinary team;

• develop appropriate communication skills when interacting with individuals with psychiatric disorders and with their family and social environment;

• contribute to the sharing of information relevant to the development and monitoring of the therapeutic and rehabilitation plan.

5. Learning Skills

The student is expected to demonstrate the ability to:

• develop autonomous and critical learning skills in the fields of clinical psychiatry and psychiatric rehabilitation;

• integrate psychopathological and clinical knowledge with knowledge from rehabilitation, psychological, and psychosocial disciplines;

• critically use classification systems, scientific literature, and reference teaching materials;

• independently update their knowledge of the main psychiatric disorders and related therapeutic and rehabilitation approaches;

• apply the knowledge acquired to subsequent courses, professional training activities, and clinical placements.

Teaching activities consist of lectures complemented by interactive discussion of clinical cases.

Should the course be delivered in a blended or online format, appropriate adjustments may be made to the teaching methods described above in order to ensure full coverage of the course content and learning objectives specified in the syllabus.

1. MAIN THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS IN PSYCHIATRY

2. PSYCHIATRIC SEMIOLOGY

Appearance, motor activity, facial expression, speech and language, behaviour, psychiatric history-taking.

3. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Attention, consciousness, memory, perception, thought, affectivity, aggressive or violent behaviour, volition, activity and psychomotor function, intelligence.

4. CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY

a) CLASSIFICATION OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS – DSM-5-TR (APA, 2022) AND ICD-11 (WHO, 2022)

b) DEMENTIA AND DELIRIUM

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

c) SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS

Alcohol, amphetamines, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, nicotine, opioids, phencyclidine, sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics. Gambling disorder and other behavioural addictions.

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

d) SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SCHIZOPHRENIFORM DISORDERS

Epidemiology, risk factors and aetiopathogenetic hypotheses, symptomatology (initial phase, active phase, course and outcomes), clinical forms, prognosis, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and treatment.

e) OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

Acute and chronic delusional disorders.

Nosography, epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentations and forms, diagnosis, course, prognosis, and treatment.

f) MOOD DISORDERS

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentations (depressive episode, manic episode, hypomania, mixed states), diagnosis, differential diagnosis, course (unipolar, dysthymic, bipolar, cyclothymic, rapid-cycling, and seasonal affective patterns), prognosis, and treatment.

g) ANXIETY DISORDERS

Panic disorder and agoraphobia; social anxiety disorder (social phobia); specific phobias; generalized anxiety disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder; acute stress disorder; anxiety disorder due to another medical condition; substance-induced anxiety disorder.

Historical and nosographic overview, epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

h) OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Historical and nosographic overview, epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

i) SOMATIC SYMPTOM AND RELATED DISORDERS

Somatization disorder, conversion disorder, pain disorder, hypochondriasis, and body dysmorphic disorder.

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

l) DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS

Dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder), and depersonalization disorder.

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

m) FACTITIOUS DISORDERS

With predominantly psychological signs and symptoms; with predominantly physical signs and symptoms; with combined psychological and physical signs and symptoms.

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

n) FEEDING AND EATING DISORDERS

Anorexia nervosa; bulimia nervosa; binge-eating disorder.

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

o) PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Cluster A: Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders.

Cluster B: Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders.

Cluster C: Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders.

Epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, course, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, comorbidities, prognosis, and treatment.

5. TREATMENT

a) PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT

Pharmacological treatments for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, psychotic disorders, and cognitive decline; mood stabilizers.

b) PSYCHOTHERAPY

c) SOMATIC TREATMENTS

d) PSYCHIATRIC AND PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION

6. MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND COMPULSORY PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT

Organization and functioning of the Mental Health Department; principles, indications, and legal aspects of compulsory psychiatric treatment.

Recommended Textbook

Favaro, A., & Sambataro, F. (2021). Manuale di psichiatria. Piccin-Nuova Libraria.

Publication date: November 2021.
ISBN: 8829932086.

ORAL EXAMINATION

*** The assessment may also be conducted remotely, should circumstances require it.

Examples of Examination Questions

• Describe the clinical course of Major Depressive Disorder.
• What are the clinical manifestations of Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder?
• What are the main feeding and eating disorders?
• How can physiological anxiety be distinguished from pathological anxiety?
• Describe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
• Discuss the differential diagnosis of psychotic disorders.