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Introduction to Psychosomatics

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:3.00
Study Course Accepted:01.08.2024 09:04:06
Study Course Information
Course Code:KF_077LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:PsychologyTarget Audience:Psychology
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Gunita Skaldere-Darmudasa
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)8Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures16
Classes (count)8Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes16
Total Contact Hours32
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)4Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures8
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Biological Foundations of Psyche I, Biological Foundations of Psyche II, Personality Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, Developmental Psychology, Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Objective:
To develop knowledge about psychosomatic processes and their impact on different human organ systems, to develop skills and competence to evaluate patients’ life and anamnesis data, as well as medical history data in case of psychosomatic disorders and diseases, to develop skills and competence to evaluate possible difficulties / problems in working with various patients with psychosomatic disorders or diseases.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1History of psychosomatic medicine. Biopsychosocial model in medicine, main psychosomatic theories. The role of neuroscience in psychosomatic medicine.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders and diseases.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of gastrointestinal diseases and eating disorders.Lectures1.00auditorium
4Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of skin diseases.Lectures1.00auditorium
5Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of gynaecological disorders. Psychosomatic aspects of infertility.Lectures1.00auditorium
6Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of endocrine disorders and diseases.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of pain. Migraine, tension headache, back pain.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Somatoform disorders.Lectures1.00auditorium
9History of psychosomatic medicine. Principles and structure for the collection of health and life records Recognition of psychological defence mechanisms, determination of the level of personality functioning in given patient medical records. Compilation of the proposed medical data, analysis of psychosocial impact and development of psychodynamic understanding of the development of health disorders.Classes2.00auditorium
10Emotions. Alexithymia. Psychosomatic vulnerability. Analysis of patient cases.Classes1.00auditorium
11Analysis of research on the development of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders/diseases from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine.Classes1.00auditorium
12Analysis of research on the development of gastrointestinal disorders/diseases, eating disorders and skin diseases from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine. An overview of patient cases.Classes1.00auditorium
13Analysis of research on the development of gynaecological and endocrine disorders and diseases from a psychosomatic point of view. Analysis of patient medical records.Classes1.00auditorium
14Analysis of research on pain development from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine. Headache. Migraine. Backache.Classes1.00auditorium
15Analysis of research on the development of somatoform disorders from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine. Analysis of patient medical records.Classes1.00auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1History of psychosomatic medicine. Biopsychosocial model in medicine, main psychosomatic theories. The role of neuroscience in psychosomatic medicine.Lectures0.50auditorium
2Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders and diseases.Lectures0.50auditorium
3Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of gastrointestinal diseases and eating disorders.Lectures0.50auditorium
4Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of skin diseases.Lectures0.50auditorium
5Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of gynaecological disorders. Psychosomatic aspects of infertility.Lectures0.50auditorium
6Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of endocrine disorders and diseases.Lectures0.50auditorium
7Psychodynamic point of view in psychosomatic medicine in the process of emergence of pain. Migraine, tension headache, back pain.Lectures0.50auditorium
8Somatoform disorders.Lectures0.50auditorium
9History of psychosomatic medicine. Principles and structure for the collection of health and life records Recognition of psychological defence mechanisms, determination of the level of personality functioning in given patient medical records. Compilation of the proposed medical data, analysis of psychosocial impact and development of psychodynamic understanding of the development of health disorders.Classes1.00auditorium
10Emotions. Alexithymia. Psychosomatic vulnerability. Analysis of patient cases.Classes0.50auditorium
11Analysis of research on the development of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders/diseases from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine.Classes0.50auditorium
12Analysis of research on the development of gastrointestinal disorders/diseases, eating disorders and skin diseases from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine. An overview of patient cases.Classes0.50auditorium
13Analysis of research on the development of gynaecological and endocrine disorders and diseases from a psychosomatic point of view. Analysis of patient medical records.Classes0.50auditorium
14Analysis of research on pain development from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine. Headache. Migraine. Backache.Classes0.50auditorium
15Analysis of research on the development of somatoform disorders from the point of view of psychosomatic medicine. Analysis of patient medical records.Classes0.50auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
To read the indicated sources of psychosomatic medicine and literature on the topic of the lecture independently. To select research on the indicated topic in the databases of scientific sources and prepare written summaries of research independently. To work in small groups (3 students), analysing the given patient anamnesis, substantiating the summary of the analysis in the large group. Finally, to prepare a report and a presentation on one of the topics of psychosomatic medicine and present it. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
1) active participation in classes – 10%; 2) fulfillment of independent work – 20%; 3) final assignment – a report – 70%.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:The student explains the most important theoretical concepts in psychosomatic medicine; theoretically explains the role of mental protection mechanisms in the process of emergence of health disorders and diseases; describes and evaluates the patient’s life anamnesis data in accordance with the principles of psychosomatic medicine; recognizes and analyses the psychodynamic processes of emergence of disorders and diseases of various organ systems.
Skills:The student collects the patient’s life anamnesis and medical history; evaluates the interaction of the patient’s psychic and somatic factors in the case of various psychosomatic disorders; evaluates possible difficulties/problems in working with patients with various psychosomatic disorders.
Competencies:The student, using the acquired knowledge, analyses the patients’ psychosomatic illness or health disorder from a psychodynamic point of view; logically formulates and interprets the obtained data, describing the patient’s case.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Fritzsche, K., McDaniel, S.H., Wirsching, M. (eds.) (2020). Psychosomatic medicine. 2nd ed., Springer
2The American Psychiatric Publishing textbook of psychosomatic medicine / edited by James L. Levenson. - Washington, DC; London: American Psychiatric Publishing, (2019).
3Aisenstein, M., Rappoport de Aisemberg, E. (2010). Psychosomatics today: a psychoanalytic perspective. London: Routledge. (e-book)
4Mārtinsone, K. un Sudraba, V. (zin.red.). (2019). Veselības psiholoģija. Teorijas un prakses starpdisciplinārā perspektīva. Rīga: RSU.
Additional Reading
1Gubb, K. (2013). Psychosomatics today: a review of contemporary theory and practice. Psychoanalytic Review, 100(1), 103–142.
2Lövheim, H. (2012). A new three-dimensional model for emotions and monoamine neurotransmitters. Medical Hypotheses. 78 (2): 341–348.
3Mārtinsone, K. un Miltuze, A. (2015). Psiholoģija, I daļa. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC.
4Mārtinsone, K. un Miltuze, A. (2015). Psiholoģija, II daļa. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC. 11.nodaļa “Personība”; 13.nodaļa “Veselība un slimība psiholoģijā”.
5Lapiņa K. (2006). Psihosomatiskās sakarības. Un mūsdienu cilvēks. Rīga: Librum.
Other Information Sources
1Psychosomatic Medicine Available from: http://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/
2Psychosomatics. Available from: http://www.psychosomaticsjournal.com/
3Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Available from: http://www.jpsychores.com/