Dietistic

Activity type

Scienze propedeutiche

SSD

M-PSI/01

Year

2nd year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

2

Hours distribution

20 classroom hours

Lecturers

UMBERTO MAURO SALVATORE CARACCIA

Activity type

Scienze della dietistica

SSD

M-PSI/08

Year

2nd year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

2

Hours distribution

20 classroom hours

Lecturers

GIULIA BALLAROTTO

Activity type

Scienze interdisciplinari cliniche

SSD

MED/25

Year

2nd year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

2

Hours distribution

20 classroom hours

Lecturers

MARTA MATRONE

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

- acquire the fundamental knowledge of general psychology, clinical psychology and psychiatry relevant to health and illness;
- understand the main psychological, relational, social and biological factors involved in the development and maintenance of Feeding and Eating Disorders;
- identify the main clinical and diagnostic features of Feeding and Eating Disorders and the most common associated psychiatric conditions;
- understand the role of developmental processes, emotional regulation, attachment, personality and interpersonal dynamics in shaping eating behaviour;
- recognize the importance of the therapeutic relationship, effective communication and therapeutic alliance in nutritional care;
- understand the role and professional boundaries of the dietitian within the multidisciplinary team involved in the prevention and treatment of Feeding and Eating Disorders;
- integrate psychological and psychiatric knowledge into the assessment of patients' needs, adopting a patient-centred and interdisciplinary clinical approach.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

The course Psychology and Psychopathology of Eating is organized into three integrated modules—General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychiatry—designed to provide students with the theoretical and clinical knowledge necessary to understand eating behaviour, psychological processes, and the major mental disorders that may influence an individual's health status and nutritional care.

The General Psychology module introduces the fundamental concepts of the discipline, viewed both as the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes and as a field rooted in philosophical inquiry into the nature of the mind and subjectivity. The course explores the major psychological processes from a predominantly psychodynamic perspective, while integrating contributions from cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the individual through the biopsychosocial model, with attention to unconscious processes, personality development, interpersonal dynamics, and the therapeutic relationship, all of which are essential for future healthcare professionals.

The Clinical Psychology module focuses on psychological functioning in Feeding and Eating Disorders through the study of the main psychodynamic models integrated with the biopsychosocial framework. Topics include personality development, attachment, emotion regulation, identity formation, body image, the psychological meaning of eating disorder symptoms, and the therapeutic relationship. The module also examines the relational aspects of the clinical interview, the dietitian's role within the multidisciplinary treatment team, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals involved in patient care.

The Psychiatry module provides students with the fundamental knowledge of the aetiology, clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and treatment principles of the major psychiatric disorders. Topics include psychiatric semiology and the principal diagnostic categories, with particular attention to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and Feeding and Eating Disorders. The module also explores the relationship between psychopathology, medical conditions, and nutritional issues, highlighting the dietitian's role within the multidisciplinary care pathway.

Taken together, the three modules provide an integrated understanding of the individual and eating behaviour, fostering students' ability to recognize the complex interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors and to work effectively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

General Psychology:
Lecture notes and teaching materials (scientific articles) provided by the instructor. Throughout the course, selected readings and excerpts from key authors in psychology, psychoanalysis, and philosophy will also be discussed to encourage critical reflection on the theoretical foundations of the discipline.

Clinical Psychology:

Required Text: Cuzzolaro, M. Anoressie e bulimie. Il peso del corpo e il peso dell'anima. Il Mulino.

Recommended Reading:
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5-TR. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (sections on Feeding and Eating Disorders).
Lingiardi, V., & McWilliams, N. (2025). Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-3). Selected chapters will be provided by the instructor.
Scientific articles and additional teaching materials provided during the course.

Psychiatry:
Recommended Reading:
Giberti, F., & Rossi, R. Manuale di Psichiatria. Piccin Nuova Libraria, latest edition.
Kring, A. M., & Johnson, S. L. Clinical Psychology, 6th edition, together with lecture notes and teaching materials provided by the instructor.
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5-TR. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Consultation of the diagnostic criteria.
Additional teaching materials, including lecture notes and scientific articles, provided during the course.

Module: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: PSYCHIATRY
N/D

Module: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: PSYCHIATRY
N/D

Module: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: PSYCHIATRY
N/D

Student learning will be assessed through an oral examination divided into three sections, corresponding to the modules of General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychiatry.

For the General Psychology module, students will be asked to present a topic of their choice, followed by two questions posed by the instructor covering the course content. The assessment is designed to evaluate not only the acquisition of theoretical knowledge but also the ability to critically integrate different topics and apply them to future professional practice.

For the Clinical Psychology module, the oral examination aims to assess students' knowledge of the course content, their understanding of the psychological functioning of patients with Feeding and Eating Disorders, and their ability to integrate psychological knowledge with the professional role of the dietitian and the work of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

For the Psychiatry module, the examination consists of the presentation of a topic chosen by the student, followed by questions related to the course content. Assessment will take into account students' knowledge of the major psychiatric disorders, the appropriate use of scientific terminology, their ability to integrate the different course topics, and to apply them to clinical and healthcare contexts relevant to the dietetic profession.

The overall assessment will consider not only students' mastery of the specific content of each module but also their ability to integrate psychological, clinical, and psychiatric knowledge into a comprehensive understanding of the individual, eating behaviour, and multidisciplinary patient care.

General Psychology
What are the main philosophical roots of psychology?
How did psychology become established as a scientific discipline?
What are the main differences between the cognitive and psychodynamic models of the mind?
What is meant by the id, ego, and superego in psychoanalytic theory?
Describe the main defence mechanisms and their psychological functions.
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
How does personal experience influence the perception of reality?
What are the major theories of learning?
How are the different memory systems organized?
What is the relationship between memory, personal identity, and self-narrative?
What is intelligence, and what are the main theoretical models of intelligence?
Why is language considered a fundamental tool in the therapeutic relationship?
What role do emotions play in decision-making processes and eating behaviour?
Which psychological factors may influence a patient's adherence to a dietary treatment plan?
What is the significance of the therapeutic relationship in dietetic practice?
Clinical Psychology
How does Clinical Psychology contribute to the understanding of Feeding and Eating Disorders?
How do attachment experiences influence the development of emotion regulation?
What is the psychological meaning of eating disorder symptoms from a psychodynamic perspective?
How does body image develop across the lifespan?
Which defence mechanisms are most commonly observed in patients with Feeding and Eating Disorders?
What role do control and perfectionism play in the psychopathology of eating disorders?
What is the therapeutic alliance, and why is it important for dietitians?
What is the difference between a descriptive diagnosis (DSM-5-TR) and a psychodynamic case formulation?
What is the role of the multidisciplinary team in the treatment of Feeding and Eating Disorders?
Which interpersonal and communication skills are essential for dietitians working with patients with Feeding and Eating Disorders?
Psychiatry
How has the concept of mental illness evolved over time?
Describe the Italian Psychiatric Reform (Law 180) and the Basaglia Reform.
How is the DSM-5-TR organized?
What is the difference between illusions and hallucinations?
What are the main disorders of thought content?
What are the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder?
What is the difference between Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder?
Describe Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
What are obsessions and compulsions?
What are the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
What is meant by personality?
What is the difference between temperament and character?
How are personality disorders classified?
Describe Borderline Personality Disorder.
What are the diagnostic criteria for Substance Use Disorder?
What is the difference between intoxication, withdrawal, and dependence?
Describe Cocaine Use Disorder.
Describe Anorexia Nervosa.
Describe Bulimia Nervosa.
Describe Binge Eating Disorder.
What is the role of the multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of Feeding and Eating Disorders?

Module: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
N/D
Module: PSYCHIATRY
N/D