Syllabus and references for English module class

Behavioral Sciences (psychosocial module)

Syllabus *)

Lecturer: Dr. Ovidiu Popa – Velea (opopavelea@hotmail.com)
MD, MA Psychology, Fulbright Alumnus
Spring 2008

Purpose:
To acquaint students with issues regarding normal and abnormal behavior, its 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. 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 comment 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 it 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 routines and behavior, 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. 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.

*) For further references and updates, see department website: http://healthpsy.home.ro (section “For students” (anul 2), or the alternative site https://healthpsy.forumgratuit.ro (section “Anul 2” and “Anunţuri”).

Calendar of courses and references: (all references - with the exception of Stoudemire's chapter at course 2a - can be found at http://healthpsy.home.ro/artic_SCU.html)

Course 1

Introduction to behavior determinants. Behavior and personality. Psychological processes influencing behavior. Theoretical models regarding behavior. Normal and abnormal behavior (relativity of abnormal behavior). Variables influencing behavior.

References:
- Marks, D., Murray, M., Evans, B., Willig, C., Woodall, C., Sykes, C. (2005) - chapter 12 („Illness and Personality”) (pages 235-252), in “Health Psychology: Theory, Research and Practice” (2nd ed.), SAGE Publications Ltd., London, New Delhi.
- Isaacs, D., Sewell, J. (2003). „Children with Chronic Conditions”, MJA, 179, pages 235-236.
- Sawyer, M.G., Couper, J.J., James Martin, A. Declan Kennedy, J. (2003). „Chronic Illness in Adolescents”, MJA, 179, page 237.
- Usherwood, T. (2003). „Chronic Illness in Middle Years”, MJA, page 239.
- Gray, L.C., Scott, I.A. (2003). „Chronic Illness in Older People”, MJA, page 241.

Course 2

Will be done variant (a) or (b), depending on first year class’ content:

(a) Biological bases of behavior (genetics, anatomic and neuro-physiological determinants of behavior);

Reference:
- Stoudemire, A. (red.) (1994). ”Human Behavior: An Introduction for Medical Students”, 2nd Ed., J.B.Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, pag.385-409.

OR

(b) Noxious, yet socially acceptable behavior and its determinants (alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, obesity);

References:
- 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.
- Spooner, Catherine (1999). “Causes and Correlates of Adolescent Drug Abuse and Implications for Treatment”, Drug and Alcohol Review, number 18 (pages 453-467).

Course 3

Behavior in clinically difficult situations (incurable patients, surgical procedures, chronic and uncontrollable pain). Ethical dilemmas regarding euthanasia and medical assisted death. Effects on doctors of exposure to clinically difficult circumstances (burnout, empathy fatigue) and their therapeutic approach.

References:
- 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;
- Rosenfeld, B. (2000). “”Assisted Suicide, Depression and the Right To Die”, Psychology, Public Policy and Law, 6, 2, pages 467-485;
- Huggard, P. (2003). “”Compassion Fatigue: How Much Can I Give?”, Medical Education, 37, pages 163-164;
- Benson, J., Magraith, K. (2005). “”Compassion Fatigue and Burnout: The Role of Balint Groups”, Australian Family Physician, 34, pages 497-498;
- Cataldo, K.P., Peeden, K., Geesey, M.E., Dickerson, L. (2005). “”Association between Balint Training and Physician Empathy and Work Satisfaction”, Family Medicine, 37, pages 328-331.

Course 4

Techniques of behavioral intervention. Psychotherapy and counselling and their effects on patients, doctors and families.

References
- To be assigned.