Research methods in clinical psychology: research topic, experimental design, sampling, methods and strategies of evaluation, biases, ethical issues, dissemination of results.
Psycho-diagnostic evaluation and testing: diagnostic interview and clinical observation; structured and semi-structured interviews; psycho-diagnostic tools; biological measurements.
Efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions: definition of efficacy and effectiveness, research designs, RCTs.
Compulsory:
Kazdin AE (1996). Methods of research in clinical psychology. Il Mulino.
Othmer E, Othmer C (2004). The clinical interview with DSM-IV-TR. Raffaello Cortina.
Schiffer D (2011). Through the microscope. The basis of clinical reasoning. Springer Verlag.
Suggested:
Moderato P, Rovetto F (2006). Psychologist: toward practicing – From the qualifying examination to the work world 3rd/ed. Mc Graw Hill.
Kring AM, Davison GC, Neale JM, Johnson SL (2008). Clinical psychology. Third Italian edition on the basis of the tenth American edition. Translated by Conti D, Frezza E. Zanichelli.
Grandi S, Rafanelli C, Fava GA (in press). Psychosomatics. Il Pensiero Scientifico.
The materials for the examinations are: compulsory and suggested books, the material given during the lessons (eg., slides, scientific papers), the content of the lessons, the product of the work conducted in small groups.
Learning Objectives
a) General aims: knowledge of research methods in clinical psychology.
b) Specific aims: knowledge and use of the main methods of clinical assessment and evaluation of psychological discomfort, get used to the concepts of efficacy and effectiveness and knowledge of the methods to verify them.
c) Expected results of learning (knowing, knowing how to do, knowing how to be): knowledge of the main methods of clinical assessment and evaluation of psychological discomfort, knowing how to properly use some instruments of clinical assessment, having critical capacity to analyze the methods of research.
Teaching Methods
explanatory-participate method and workshops.
Further information
EVALUATION METHOD: with scoring.
Attendance to the course non compulsory but warmly suggested.
Type of Assessment
oral examination
Course program
Methods of research in clinical psychology: choice of the research topic and of the experimental design, methods and strategies of evaluation, sources of biases and distortions, ethics and guidelines to run a research, results dissemination. The students will produce a research protocol on a topic of their interest working in small groups.
Psycho-diagnostic evaluation and testing: diagnostic interview and clinical observation (examples of case files will be provided); structured and semi-structured interviews (the students will be trained to use the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview); psycho-diagnostic tools: choice and responsible use of tests, self- (BDI, STAI-Y) and hetero-administered (HRSD, ASI) symptomatological test, personality questionnaires (MMPI- 2), projective test (Rorschach test), IQ test (WAIS) (the students will be trained to use specific auto- and hetero-administered rating scales); biological evaluation.
Efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions: definition of efficacy and effectiveness, research design for the evaluation of interventions, the randomized clinical trials, Cochrane collaboration and evidence-based mental health, difficulties in applying the principles of randomized controlled studies.