Forensic Psychopathology

Course objectives

The student will acquire theoretical-practical training in the field of forensic psychopathology and the ability to contextualize the subject in the various fields of application. In particular, the course will delve into the comprehensive assessment of the person, psychopathological disorders, and the incidence of the same in the different criminal and civil cases. The student will acquire decision making skills, delve into the different conceptual biases applied to the subject, and tools useful to his or her professionalism. Knowledge and understanding. Upon completion of the course, the student will have mastered the clinical tools useful for diagnosing and classifying disorders, identifying nosographic criteria, identifying the mode of onset and course of the disorder as well as effective evidence-based treatments. In addition, he or she will know how to apply this knowledge to forensic field. Applying knowledge and understanding. The student will be able to competently apply the acquired knowledge, in particular, he/she will be able to apply the different methods of clinical assessment, knowing the various stages of clinical interview, the most appropriate tools to arrive at diagnosis by applying international diagnostic systems.

Channel 1
Benedetta Barchielli Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
1. Psychology and the Criminal Justice Process - Psychology in the courtroom - Assessment of criminal responsibility and mental capacity - Psychiatric risk assessment (social dangerousness) - Evaluation of the capacity to testify and to stand trial - Psychological damage assessment - Assessment of financial capacity and testamentary capacity - Psychological assessment and testing in forensic settings - Malingering and the simulation of mental illness 2. Mental Disorders and Criminal Behavior - Personality disorders (lecturer: Mario Giantesani) - Personality disorders and psychopathy: issues related to criminal responsibility - Homicide and mental disorder - Crime-related amnesia - Substance use, abuse, and disorders within forensic psychiatry - Neurological disorders of forensic relevance - Introduction to the concept and assessment of suicide risk in correctional settings 3. Vulnerable Populations and the Criminal Justice System - Women as offenders - Older people and the criminal justice system 4. Relational and Psychopathological Crimes - Crimes of passion and filicide - Stalking: criminogenic and psychopathological dimensions of a relational obsession 5. Neuroscience and Forensic Psychopathology - Neuroscience of criminal behavior 6. Treatment and Rehabilitation - Treatment perspectives in prison settings: main evidence-based models and their applications
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Books
The study materials will include the slides and additional resources provided by the instructor during the course. For further study, students interested in the subject are recommended to consult the book Forensic Psychology and Neuropsychology for Criminal and Civil Cases, Edited by Harold V. Hall and Joseph Poirier, Routledge, 2022.
Frequency
Attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended
Exam mode
The exam will consist of two open-ended questions based on the topics covered during the course.
Lesson mode
The course will be held in person for students located in Italy and online for students connected from the University of Zuel.
  • Lesson code10603365
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseCognitive Forensic Sciences
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDMED/43
  • CFU6