Curriculum, references -Behav.Sciences (psychosocial module)

Behavioral Sciences (psychosocial module)
8 course hours (= 4 lectures), 12 seminar hours (= 6 seminars)

SYLLABUS

Instructor: Ovidiu Popa – Velea (ovidiu.popa-velea@umf.ro)
MD, PhD, MA Psychology, Fulbright Alumnus

Teaching Assistants:
Liliana Diaconescu, MD, PhD, MA Psychology, idiac2002@yahoo.com
Ioana Cioca, PhD, MA Psychology, ipsi200320002000@yahoo.com

Purpose:
To acquaint students with issues regarding normal and abnormal behavior, their origins, connections to personality and other variables, behavioral manifestations in special clinical circumstances, application of psychotherapy to normalize various behavioral symptoms.

Format:
This is a continuation of the first year course of Health Psychology, structured as a series of 4 lectures and 6 seminars. Students are expected to valorize the background in Health Psychology course, which would facilitate the assimilation of Behavioral Sciences concepts. Learning will be an interactive process, so all students are encouraged to ask and to offer feedback on any possible issues of interest concerning the course.  

Objectives:
To enable students to:
1. Understand the origins of behavior and its connection to personality and other variables;
2. Be able to identify normal and abnormal behavior and address them consequently;
3. Become familiar with various theories of behavior and to instruments designed to evaluate behavior, as well as with modalities of intervention, centered upon behavioral change;
4. Become familiar with various unhealthy behaviors, be able to understand their origin, pathogenesis and clinical outcomes;
5. Understand behavioral changes in various special clinical circumstances (chronic pain, incurable diseases, surgical interventions);
6. Learn about behavioral symptoms of overload / empathy fatigue / burnout at doctors working with patients with problematic symptoms and / or personality disorders, and their therapeutic approach;
7. Encourage own student learning about Behavioral Sciences issues, and their application in clinical settings.

Requirements:
Students are expected to attend regularly the course and the seminars and to participate actively in group discussions. A number of two or more absences at seminar will automatically lead to postponing of the exam from summer into the Fall session. References will be assigned by the instructor and should be read before each class.

Evaluation:
Grades will be based mainly on student’s performances at the final exams and at the seminars. Regular attendance and class participation will be considered a plus.

PROGRAM OF COURSES AND REFERENCES

COURSE 1
Introduction to behavior determinants
1. Behavior and personality;
2. Psychological processes influencing behavior;
3. Normal and abnormal behavior.

Reference (* = obligatory)
- *) Popa-Velea, O. (2013). Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, “Carol Davila” University Publishing House, Bucharest, pages 15-47, 62-74.

COURSE 2
Biological, demographic and psychological / psychosocial bases of behavior

a) Biological variables (excepting endocrine):
1. Genetic factors (examples);
2. Anatomical structures (examples);
3. Neuromediators (examples).

b) Demographic and psychological / psychosocial variables influencing behavior
1. Individual (age, gender, socio-economical status)
2. Psychosocial (personality, sociological and anthropological determinants).

References (* = obligatory)
*) Popa-Velea, O. (2013). Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, “Carol Davila” University Publishing House, Bucharest, pages 75-124, 141-165, 185-198, 231-242;
- Marks, D., Murray, M., Evans, B., Willig, C., Woodall, C., Sykes, C. (2005) - pages 235-252, in “Health Psychology: Theory, Research and Practice” (2nd ed.), SAGE Publications Ltd., London, New Delhi.

COURSE 3
Behavior in special stressful conditions

a) Noxious behavior and risks for health
1. Definitions of abuse.
2. Theories about the etiology of unhealthy behavior.
3. Dependent personality (DSM-IV).
4. Main clinical risks of alcohol intake and heavy smoking.
5. Techniques of effective psychological intervention.

(b) Behavior in clinically difficult situations
1. Incurable patients, surgical procedures, chronic and uncontrollable pain.
2. Ethical dilemmas regarding euthanasia and medical assisted death.
3. Effects on doctors of exposure to clinically difficult circumstances (burnout, empathy fatigue) and their therapeutic approach (e.g. Balint groups: definition, ways of functioning).

References (* = obligatory)
- *) Popa-Velea, O. (2013). Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, “Carol Davila” University Publishing House, Bucharest, pages 211-230, 370-380, 393-410, 439-446;
- Marks, D., Murray, M., Evans, B., Willig, C., Woodall, C., Sykes, C. (2005). Chapter 7 (“Alcohol and Drinking”) (pages 134-153), in “Health Psychology: Theory, Research and Practice” (2nd ed.), SAGE Publications Ltd., London, New Delhi.
- Fisher, E., Brownson, R., Heath, A., Luke, D., Sumner, W. (2004) - chapter “Cigarette Smoking” (pages 75-107), in Boll, Thomas (red.) – “Handbook of Clinical Health Psychology” (vol.2), American Psychological Association.
- Meier, Diane, Back, A., Morrison, R.S. (2001). ”The Inner Life of Physicians and Care of the Seriously Ill”, JAMA, 286, 23, pages 3007-3014;
- Meier, D.E., Emmons, C.A., Litke, A., Wallenstein, S., Morrison, S. (2002). “Characteristics of Patients Requesting and Receiving Physician-Assisted Death”, Archives of Internal Medicine, 163, 1537-1542.

COURSE 4
Techniques of behavioral intervention. Psychotherapies and their effects on patients, doctors and families

1. Psychoanalysis, Cognitive-behavioral therapy (review from first year of study);
2. Transactional analysis (definition, theoretical background, indications, efficiency).
3. Group psychotherapy (definition, theoretical background, indications, efficiency).
4. Family psychotherapy (definition, theoretical background, indications, efficiency).
5. Art therapy (examples, theoretical background, indications, efficiency).

Reference (* = obligatory)
- *) Popa-Velea, O. (2013). Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, “Carol Davila” University Publishing House, Bucharest, pages 481-491, 492-507, 508-523, 524-534, 557-575.