Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy

The department provides training for students, undergraduates, masters, residents and doctors in study courses  of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy, mental health, basic psychotherapy, medical psychology, etc., the lecturers carry out research work, create useful materials, perform therapeutic activities at the RSU psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy clinic and others medical facilities, organize the work of the scientific group of students, as well as cultural afternoons of the department and clinic.

Operational objectives and directions

• Providing an effective study and training process for students, undergraduates, masters, residents and physicians in study courses psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy, mental health, basic psychotherapy, medical psychology, etc.
• Conducting PhD studies
• Research
• Development of methodological materials
• Participation in EU fund activities (ESF, ERAF)

Research directions, projects

Scientific research topics

• Mental health, quality of life and well-being, emotional support and prevalence of psychosomatic disorders, risk factors for healthcare workers and health care professionals
• Doctor-patient therapeutic relationship: empathy, therapeutic factors
• Personality function levels and somatization, psychotherapy effectiveness
• Psychosomatic aspects of chronic pain: socio-cultural factors, biochemical markers, efficacy of complex therapy;
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome: prevalence, diagnostics, biochemical markers, correction options
• Magical thinking, believing in the paranormal, critical thinking
• Aggression and its phenomena on the internet

History of the department

In 1994, a course of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy was established at the Latvian Academy of Medicine, but in January 1997 the course was transformed into a Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy.

The department first location was on Grecinieku street 34 (since 1994), then between 01.10.2009 and 01.11.2017 at 23 Kapseļu iela, and now at 30 Kristapa iela.

The creation of a new study programme required knowledge that could be obtained from experienced foreign specialists have helped (in particular, colleagues of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Germany, as well as Latvian specialists in emigration – Kaspars Tūters and Voldemars
Gulēns from Canada).

Creative co-operation has developed both in the pedagogical and scientific fields with the educational and medical treatment institutions of these countries.

Directions of pedagogical work

Students of various faculties and specialties study at the department: students of medicine, stomatology, dental hygiene, pharmacy, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, nutrition, public health, art therapy and social work in appropriate study programs. Two residential study programmes have been established – the four year old psychotherapy study programme and the six years old joint psychotherapy and psychiatry study programme. Training in the cycle of psychotherapy and psychosomatic medicine includes the residents of psychiatry (study years 2 and 4), internal medicine, family medicine (study years 1, 2 and 3), ophthalmology, gynaecology and obstetricians, dermatovenerology, facial and jaw surgery, endodontics, paediatric dentistry, periodontics, oncology' and chemotherapy. The seminar program is for paediatric residents.

Training of doctors is ongoing – regular continuing education work has been developed both in three-year re-training courses in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy and in second level courses. Courses programs have also been developed for doctors of other specialities, teachers and parents.

The first foreign professors' lectures and seminars in psychosomatic medicine in Latvia were possible thanks to the activity of the department's employees. In 1993,Ulrik Malt weeks of lectures were lectured by a professor of psychiatry from the University of Oslo (Norway a professor of psychiatry from the University of Oslo (Norway), gave lectures for a week, in 1994, Hubert Speidel, a professor at Christian-Albrechts university at Kiel.

In 1996, faculty and staff of the department organised the Baltic Sea Conference in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy, where, besides previously mentioned professors, leading professors from 12 other countries spoke – Prof. Claus Bahne Bahnson (Germany, Denmark), Prof. Charles Ford (USA), Prof. Huberts Laceym (United Kingdom), Prof. Lennart Levi (Sweden), MD Kari Pylkkänen (Finland) etc.

In 1999, A basic training program in psychotherapy was established with  the doctors of the University of Umeo (Sweden), which included the assist. Prof. Gunta Ancāne and assistant Voldemārs Švarcs as teaching staff on the part of Latvia.

The pedagogical work of the department focuses on the professional integration into professional structures in Europe, both in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy, with the main emphasis on the development of psychodynamics/psychoanalytical psychotherapy.

Recommended literature

• Allan N. Schore. Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self: The Neurobiology of Emotional Development
• Allan V. Horwitz, Jerome C. Wakefield. Loss of Sadness: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow into Depressive Disorder, 2007
• Andreasen, Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1951-6728-3
• Antonio Damasio and Fred Stella. Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain [Audiobook] [Audio CD]
• Antonio Damasio. Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain 2012
• Art of Psychotherapy, Anthony Storr 1998
• Barent W. Walsh. Treating Self-Injury, Second Edition 2012
• Bateman, Mentalization- based Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder: A P....  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1985-7090-5
• Bateman, Psychoterapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: Mentalization- based...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1985-2766-4
• Benedetti, F. The patient's brain : the neuroscience behind the doctor-patient relationship / Oxford ; 2011
• Bienenfeld, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Clinical Practice...  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, ISBN: 978-0-7817-9949-2
• Blanchard, Overcaming the Trauma of Motor Vehlice Accident: A Cognitive-Be...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1953-0606-4
• Blumenfield, Psychosomatic Medicine...  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, ISBN: 978-0-7817-6046-1
• Bruce S. Liese, Aaron T. Beck, Dara G. Friedman-Wheeler. Group Cognitive Therapy for Addictions 2012
• Candice M. Monson PhD, Steffany J. Fredman PhD. Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD 2012
• Charney, Neurobiology of Mental Illness...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1951-8980-3
• Churchland, Patricia Smith Braintrust : what neuroscience tells us about morality / Princeton, N.J. ; 2011
• Clark, David A., Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders : science and practice / New York : 2010
• Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, Marsha Linehan 1993
• Craske, Mastering Your Anxiety and Panic: Therapist Guide...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1953-1140-2
• Craske, Mastering Your Anxiety and Panic: Workbook for Primary Care Settings...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1953-1134-1
• Craske, Mastering Your Fears and Fobias: Therapist Guide...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1951-8917-9
• Dan Longo, Anthony Fauci, Dennis Kasper, Stephen Hauser, J. Jameson, Joseph Loscalzo. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 18th Edition, 2011
• Douglas A. Drossman. Rome III: The Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder 3rd Edition 2006
• Drive, Ego, Object, and Self: A Synthesis for Clinical Work, Fred Pine 1990
• Eating Disorder  Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN: 978-0-4708-4865-4
• Encyclopedia of Stress, Four- Volume Set, 2e, George Fink (editor-in-chief)
• Everyday Biological Stress Mechanisms. International Symposium on Scientifically Based Biologically Assesment of Long-Term Stress in Daily Life. Advances in Psychosomatic Medicine Vol. 22 2000 ISBN: 978-3-8055-7191-3
• Evidence-Based Psychotherapy
• Feinberg,  Todd E. Altered Egos: How the Brain Creates the Self/ New York:  2002
• Feinberg, Todd E. From axons to identity : neurological explorations of the nature of the self / New York : 2009
• Fredric N. Busch, Barbara L. Milrod, Meriamne B. Singer, Andrew C. Aronson. Manual of panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy -- extended range / New York ; 2012
• Gabbard, Long-Term Psychodinamic Psychoterapy: A Basic Text...  American Psychiatric Press, ISBN: 978-1-5856-2144-6
• Gabbard, Oxford Textbook of Psychoterapy...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1985-2065-8
• Graham Mmpi-2: Assessing Personality and Psychopatology...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1951-6806-8
• Halligan. Power of Belief, The: Psychosocial Influence on Illness, Disability, a...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1985-3011-4
• Hawton. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychiatric problems: A Practical Guid...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1926-1587-9
• Hines, Melissa Brain gender / Oxford ; 2004
• Horwitz, Loss of Sadness, The: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow into De...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1953-1304-8
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression: A Brief, Focused, Specific Strategy (The Master Work Series), Klerman Gerald L. 1995
• James L. Levenson. Essentials of psychosomatic medicine / Washington, DC ; 2007
• Janicak, Principles and Practice of Psychopharmacotherapy...  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, ISBN: 978-0-7817-6057-7
• Jones. Working with Dangerous People: The Psychoterapy of Violence...  Radcliffe Publishing Ltd., ISBN: 978-1-8577-5824-5
• Jose Antonio Marina, Anatomy of fear
• Jose Antonio Marina, Failed Intelligence. Theory and Practice of Stupidity
• Joseph D. Lichtenberg, Frank M. Lachmann,  James L. Fosshage. Psychoanalysis and Motivational Systems: A New Look 2010
• Joseph LeDoux. Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are 2003
• Kalman Glantz. Exiles from Eden: Psychotherapy from an Evolutionary Perspective
• Kandel, Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and the New Biology of Mind  American Psychiatric Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-5856-2199-6
• Kazdin, Parent Managment Training: Treatment of Oppositional, Agressive, an...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1951-5429-0
• Kemuel L. Philbrick, James R. Rundell, Pamela J. Netzel, James L. Levenson. Clinical manual of psychosomatic medicine : a guide to consultation-liaison psychiatry / Washington, DC ; 2012
• Launer, How Not to be a Doctor: and Other Essays...  Royal Society of Medicine Press, ISBN: 978-1-8531-5752-3
• Leahy, Robert L. Cognitive therapy techniques : a practitioner's guide / New York ; 2003
• Leigh McCullough, Nat Kuhn MD Phd, Stuart Andrews , Amelia Kaplan, Jonathan Wolf, Cara Lanza Hurley, Nat Kuhn, Cara Hurley. Treating affect phobia : a manual for short-term dynamic psychotherapy / New York; 2003
• Levin, Fred M. Mapping the mind : the intersection of psychoanalysis and neuroscience / London ; 2003
• Levin, Fred M. Psyche and brain : the biology of talking cures / London : 2011
• Lichtenberg, Joseph D. Self and motivational systems : toward a theory of psychoanalytic technique / New York ; 2001
• Lives Transformed: A Revolutionary Method of Dynamic Psychotherapy
• Long-term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Basic Text (Core Competencies in Psychotherapy)
• Louis Cozolino.  The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment And the Developing Social Brain (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology) 2006
• Magnavita, Jeffrey J. Restructuring personality disorders : a short-term dynamic approach / New York ; 1997
• Making Contact: Uses of Language in Psychotherapy, Leston Havens 1988
• Mark Solms. Brain and the Inner World: An Introduction to the Neuroscience of the Subjective Experience 2003
• Michael S. Gazzaniga. The Ethical Brain.
• Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People for Change (Hardcover) by William R. Miller, Stephen Rollnick 2002
• Norcross. Psychotherapy Relationships that Work;Therapist Contributions and Responsiveness to Patients 2002
• Oldham. American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Personality disorders, The...  American Psychiatric Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-5856-2159-0
• Pfaff, Donald W., Man and woman : an inside story / New York : 2011
• Principles of Psychosomatic Assessment. Giovanni A.Fava, Nicoletta Sonino, Thomas N. Wise.
• Problems and Solutions: A Guide to Psychotherapy for the Beginning Psychotherapist, Martin Kantor 1990
• Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions. A New Classification for DSM-V. Advances in Psychosomatic Medicine Vol. 28 2007 ISBN: 978-3-8055-8331-2
• Psychoneuroallergology, 2nd edition. Ioan Bradu IAMANDESCU ed.
• Psychosomatic Medicine  Williams And Wilkins 0033-3174
• Rothbaun, Reclaiming Your Life from a Traumatic Expierence: Client Workbook  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1953-0848-8
• Roy Moodley, Uwe P. Gielen, Rosa Wu. Handbook of Counseling and Psychotherapy in an International Context 2013
• Safren, Coping with Chronic Illness: A Cognitive-behavioral Therapy Approach f...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1953-1515-8
• Sahler Behavioral Sciences and Health Care, The...  Hogrefe & Huber Publishers, ISBN: 978-0-8893-7307-5
• Sarah Coakley, Kay Kaufman Shelemay. Pain and its transformations : the interface of biology and culture / Cambridge, Mass. : 2007
• Schmidt, Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e): Survival Kit for Sufferers of Bulimia...  Psychology Press, ISBN: 978-0-8637-7730-1
• Seminars in the psychotherapies 2007
• Sexual Dysfunction. Advances in Psychosomatic Medicine Vol. 29 2008 ISBN: 978-3-8055-8357-2
• Social neuroscience : people thinking about thinking people / Cambridge, Mass. ; 2006
• Stahl, Stephen M., Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology : neuroscientific basis and practical applications / New York : 2008
• Stahl. Stahl`s Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practic...  Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 978-0-5216-7376-1
• Stress. The Brain-Body Connection. Key Issues of Mental Health, Vol. 174 2008 ISBN: 978-3-8055-8295-7
• Supportive Therapy for Borderline Patients : A Psychodynamic Approach (Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders Ser.), Lawrence H. Rockland 1992
• Therapeutic Communication: Knowing What to Say When, Paul L. Wachtel 1993
• Thomas, Postpsychiatry: Mental Health in a Postmodern World...  Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-1985-2609-4
• Treasure, Skills-based Learning for Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disor...  Routledge, ISBN: 978-0-4154-3158-3
• Treating Alcoholism P (Jossey-Bass Library of Current Clinical Technique), Brown 2001

Useful materials

• Agnese Gaile, Aija van Hofa. Hipokrātiskie raksti. Liepnieks & Rītups, 2003., 449 lpp.
• Medicīna. Ētikas rokasgrāmata. Pasaules Medicīnas asociācija. 2. izd., 2005., 2009.
• Aristotelis. Nikomaha ētika. Rīga, Zvaigzne, 1985.
• Medical ethics. Ed. R. M. Veatch, Sec. ed., 1997, 461 lpp.

Meetings at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy

Video recordings of the livestreamed sessions

We have created a space for everyone to discuss, listen, share and be together with their colleagues and friends during this time of reflection, challenges and opportunities. We invite every RSU employee and student to join the meeting cycle organised by the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy. Below you can access video recordings of previous sessions.

Meeting with Dr Artūrs Ancāns, 25 March 2020

Meeting with Dr Artūrs Ancāns, 8 April 2020

Meeting with Dr Artūrs Ancāns, 29 April 2020

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