.
Introduction to Psychosomatics
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:7.00
Study Course Accepted:22.08.2023 10:02:17
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | PMUPK_020 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.00 | ECTS: | 3.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Clinical Medicine; Health Care | Target Audience: | Pharmacy | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Gunta Ancāne | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Riga, 30 Kristapa Street, pmpk rsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67210989 | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 1 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 2 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 10 | Class Length (academic hours) | 3 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 30 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 32 | ||||||||
| Part-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 0 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 0 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 0 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 13 | Class Length (academic hours) | 3 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 39 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 39 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | An idea of the dual, natural-scientific and humanitarian nature of psychic processes. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The objective of the study course is to promote the acquisition of knowledge about the regularities of human psychic functioning and the interaction of psychic and somatic processes. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Mental defence mechanisms. 1. Immature mental defence mechanisms 2. Mature mental defence mechanisms. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | The concept of personality. The topographical and structural model of the functioning of the psyche. Personality development according to different theories. 1. The definitions of personality 2. The understanding of personality in classical Freudian theory 3. The understanding of personality in modern psychodynamic theory 4. Comparison of personality theories from a psychotherapeutic perspective 5. The concept of personality disorders: conflict and deficit models. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Levels of personality functioning and types of personality organisation. 1. Neurotic level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms, internal conflict and ability to form relationships. 2. Borderline level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms, internal conflict and ability to form relationships. 3. Psychotic level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Psychosexual and epigenetic theory of development, psychosocial crises. Ego psychology. Self psychology. Personality development according to different theories. Object relations theory, the importance of mother-child relations in the child’s psychological development. 1. Personality development in Erikson’s view 2. Personality development in Kohut’s view 3. Personality development in Mahler’s view 4. The concept of object relations in psychotherapy – its meaning 5. The emotional aspects | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | The biopsychosocial model in medicine, the main psychosomatic theories, the concept of alexithymia. Stress, types thereof. Somatisation. 1. The psychic, social and biological causes of diseases (WHO) 2. The bio-psycho-pathological model of vulnerability: the impact of early childhood emotional distress on the risk of developing emotional and somatic disorders in adulthood (Egle and Hardt study findings). | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Affect theory. Emotions, affects, physiological role and psychophysiological classification thereof. The role of emotions in the somatisation process. Emotional intelligence. 1. Innate emotions 2. The concept of appropriate and inappropriate expression of emotions 3. The role of emotions in the perspective of evolutionary theory 4. Somatic manifestations of affects – the process of somatisation as a form of modern communication 5. The meaning and manifestations of emotional intelligence. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | The concept of psychotherapy. Objectives. Indications. Theories of psychotherapy. Indications. Contraindications. The concept of the psychotherapy process (evaluation phase, initial phase of therapy, development phase, closing phase). 1. The concept of psychotherapy 2. The objectives of psychotherapy 3. The indications of psychotherapy 4. The contraindications of psychotherapy 5. The process of psychotherapy (evaluation phase, initial phase of therapy, development phase, closing phase). | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Transference, countertransference, resistance. Psychotherapist-patient relations. 1. Transference, its role in psychotherapy and the therapeutic alliance 2. Countertransference, its role in psychotherapy and the therapeutic alliance 3. Resistance, its role in psychotherapy and the therapeutic alliance. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) psychotherapy. Supportive psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy. Individual, couple, family, group psychotherapy. Child and adolescent psychotherapy. 1. Differences between psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy options – applications thereof 2. Supportive psychotherapy 3. Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) psychotherapy 4. Cognitive behavioural therapy 5. Individual, couple, family, group psychotherapy 6. Child and adolescent psychotherapy. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Personality disorders and types – depressive manic, narcissistic, obsessive compulsive, hysterical, dissociative, dependent, masochistic. 1. Depressive personality organisation type: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation 2. Manic personality organisation type: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Personality disorders and types – schizoid, paranoid, antisocial personality. 1. Paranoid personality organisation type: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation 2. Schizoid personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation 3. Antisocial personalities. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Topic Layout (Part-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Mental defence mechanisms. 1. Immature mental defence mechanisms 2. Mature mental defence mechanisms. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | The concept of personality. The topographical and structural model of the functioning of the psyche. Personality development according to different theories. 1. The definitions of personality 2. The understanding of personality in classical Freudian theory 3. The understanding of personality in modern psychodynamic theory 4. Comparison of personality theories from a psychotherapeutic perspective 5. The concept of personality disorders: conflict and deficit models. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Levels of personality functioning and types of personality organisation. 1. Neurotic level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms, internal conflict and ability to form relationships. 2. Borderline level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms, internal conflict and ability to form relationships. 3. Psychotic level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Psychosexual and epigenetic theory of development, psychosocial crises. Ego psychology. Self psychology. Personality development according to different theories. Object relations theory, the importance of mother-child relations in the child’s psychological development. 1. Personality development in Erikson’s view 2. Personality development in Kohut’s view 3. Personality development in Mahler’s view 4. The concept of object relations in psychotherapy – its meaning 5. The emotional aspects | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | The biopsychosocial model in medicine, the main psychosomatic theories, the concept of alexithymia. Stress, types thereof. Somatisation. 1. The psychic, social and biological causes of diseases (WHO) 2. The bio-psycho-pathological model of vulnerability: the impact of early childhood emotional distress on the risk of developing emotional and somatic disorders in adulthood (Egle and Hardt study findings). | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Affect theory. Emotions, affects, physiological role and psychophysiological classification thereof. The role of emotions in the somatisation process. Emotional intelligence. 1. Innate emotions 2. The concept of appropriate and inappropriate expression of emotions 3. The role of emotions in the perspective of evolutionary theory 4. Somatic manifestations of affects – the process of somatisation as a form of modern communication 5. The meaning and manifestations of emotional intelligence. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | The concept of psychotherapy. Objectives. Indications. Theories of psychotherapy. Indications. Contraindications. The concept of the psychotherapy process (evaluation phase, initial phase of therapy, development phase, closing phase). 1. The concept of psychotherapy 2. The objectives of psychotherapy 3. The indications of psychotherapy 4. The contraindications of psychotherapy 5. The process of psychotherapy (evaluation phase, initial phase of therapy, development phase, closing phase). | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Transference, countertransference, resistance. Psychotherapist-patient relations. 1. Transference, its role in psychotherapy and the therapeutic alliance 2. Countertransference, its role in psychotherapy and the therapeutic alliance 3. Resistance, its role in psychotherapy and the therapeutic alliance. | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) psychotherapy. Supportive psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy. Individual, couple, family, group psychotherapy. Child and adolescent psychotherapy. 1. Differences between psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy options – applications thereof 2. Supportive psychotherapy 3. Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) psychotherapy 4. Cognitive behavioural therapy 5. Individual, couple, family, group psychotherapy 6. Child and adolescent psychotherapy. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Personality disorders and types – depressive manic, narcissistic, obsessive compulsive, hysterical, dissociative, dependent, masochistic. 1. Depressive personality organisation type: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation 2. Manic personality organisation type: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Personality disorders and types – schizoid, paranoid, antisocial personality. 1. Paranoid personality organisation type: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation 2. Schizoid personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation 3. Antisocial personalities. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | Analysis of patient case descriptions. 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: | I. Knowledge – the ability to define: 75%: 1. Patient mental health criteria (15%) 2. Patient mental defence mechanisms (15%) 3. Levels of patient personal functioning (15%) 4. Origin of psychosomatic disorders and diseases, psychodynamic understanding of symptoms (15%) 5. Communication, principles thereof in the pharmacist’s work (dual role – patient/client) (15%) II. Skills: 1. Basics of pharmacist-patient/client relationship building (25%). Automatic pass in the exam: 1. 100% class attendance AND 2. The student actively participates in discussions and role plays. 3. According to the lecturer’s instructions – writing an essay of 5-6 pages, in which the questions asked by the lecturer are analysed. OR Preparing a presentation on: a) a topic of cycle classes (literature review); b) a clinical case; c) the latest research (according to the topic of the class). | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Students will be able to: analyse the role of psychological factors in case of somatic diseases; evaluate the psychodynamic aspects of pharmacological therapy; describe psychosomatic disorders and etiopathogenesis of diseases, name and express the basic principles of communication. | ||||||||
| Skills: | Students will be able to: briefly describe the aetiopathogenesis of cases of psychosomatic patients, explain the possibilities of using the placebo effect; demonstrate the basic elements of therapeutic communication. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Students will be able to analyse the role of biological, emotional and social factors in the aetiology and pathogenesis of diseases. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Women at higher risk for inflation-related stress, 24.05.2023 | ||||||||
| 2 | Medical-level empathy? Yup, chatGPT can fake that, 4.05.2023 | ||||||||
| 3 | Long- term impact of childhood trauma explained, 2.05.2023 | ||||||||
| 4 | Anger in adults a red flag for childhood trauma, 5.04.2023 | ||||||||
| 5 | Melatonin a new way to reduce self-harm, 27.03.2023 | ||||||||
| 6 | Vegetarians suffer more depression than meat eaters, 27.12.2022 | ||||||||
| 7 | Greater Handgrip Strength tied to lower risk for depression, 20.12.2022 | ||||||||
| 8 | What happens when doctors and patients interrupt each other?, 23.11.2022 | ||||||||
| 9 | German survey on assisted suicide: how to handle this? Where should caution be exercised?, 16.09.2022 | ||||||||
| 10 | Empathy fatigue in clinicians rises with latest COVID-19 surge, 16.09.2021 | ||||||||
| 11 | Why do we love sad music? Mourning our pain, 27.11.2018 | ||||||||
| 12 | Utināns A. Cilvēka psihe. Tās darbība, funkcionēšanas traucējumi un ārstēšanas iespējas. Nacionālais apgāds. 2005. 205.-568. lpp. (akceptējams izdevums) | ||||||||
| 13 | Ancāne, G. Hronisku sāpju stāvokļu psihosomatiska izpratne. //Latvijas Ārsts. 2004. Nr1. 40.-43. lpp. (akceptējams izdevums) | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Ancāne, G., Smite, D. Die Bedeutung emotionaler Belastung für das Schmerz- syndrom bei Patienten mit chronischem Kreuzschmerz. Ärztliche Psychotherapie 1/ 2011., 49.-54. lpp. | ||||||||
| 2 | Ancāne, G. Ķermeņa un psihes saistība. //Psiholoģijas Pasaule. 2004. Nr.1, 38.-43. lpp. | ||||||||
