FEDERICA GALLI

Clinical Psychology Applied to the Health and Care Contexts.

The course aims to provide the student with the knowledge of psychosomatic for identifying the psychological difficulties 
present in the patient referred to healthcare contexts and for effective orientation towards the most appropriate forms of 
psychological intervention, according to evidence-based practice.
At the end of the course, the student will know the characterizing aspects of the main theoretical reference models
for the psychological understanding of the different psychopathological pictures linked to medical disorders/diseases, for psychodiagnostic evaluation 
and for psychological intervention in healthcare contexts. 
The Student will be able to understand the psychological factors relevant to the development of the various 
manifestations of mental distress in childhood and adulthood (childhood trauma, psychic conflict, defense mechanisms, stress); 
the main emotional implications linked to the disease, treatment and hospitalization (defensive reactions, compliance, placebo effect,
 burnout). He/She will be able to apply the principles of psychological intervention in healthcare practice, with particular attention to 
the conduct of the clinical interview and relational dynamics as a means of understanding and changing the patient.

PROGRAMME (for Students attending lessons in person):

Introduction to Psychosomatic Medicine

Overview of psychosomatic medicine

Historical context and development

Psychosocial factors and their impact on health

Diagnostic framework: DSM-5, PDM-2 and ICD-10

Mind-Body Connection

The brain-body connection

Psychoneuroimmunology

The role of hormones and neurotransmitters

Stress and Psychosomatic Disorders

Stress and its physiological effects

Stress-related disorders (e.g., hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome)

Stress management techniques

Psychosomatic Aspects of Chronic Illness

Psychosomatic aspects of depression and anxiety

Coping strategies for emotional well-being

Diabetes and psychosocial factors

Psychoncology

Psychocardiology

Autoimmune disorders 

Placebo and nocebo effect

Psychosomatic Aspects of Pain

Pain perception and psychosomatic aspects

Chronic pain conditions and their psychological components

Pain management strategies

Case Studies and Practical Applications

Analyzing real-world cases of psychosomatic disorders

Developing treatment plans with a psychosomatic approach

Patient communication and empathy

Future Trends in Psychosomatic Medicine

Advances in psychosomatic research

Integrative medicine and holistic approaches

Ethical considerations in psychosomatic care

PROGRAMME (for Students do NOT attending lessons in person):

Psychosomatic Medicine: 

Psychosomatic Medicine- An International Guide for the Primary Care Setting. Kurt Fritzsche, Susan H. McDaniel, Michael Wirsching (EDS). Springer (2020) (link to the Handbook is provided)

Placebo (Benedetti, Enck, Frisaldi, Schedlowsy). Springer (2016)

For questions and for an appointment: f.galli@uniroma1.it
 

Professoressa Associata di Psicologia Clinica (11/PSIC-04-B, ex M-PSI/08) presso il Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica e Clinica -Sapienza.
Abilitazione scientifica a Professore di I fascia (11/PSIC-04-B, ex M-PSI-08).

• Dall’AA 2023-2024 è Direttrice del Master in Psicologia Ospedaliera - Sapienza.
• Dal 22 Dicembre 2023 è Coordinatrice del Dottorato di Ricerca in Psicologia Dinamica e Clinica del Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica, Clinica e Salute della Facoltà di Medicina e Psicologia - Sapienza.
• Da Maggio 2025 è Direttrice della Scuola di Dottorato in Scienze Psicologiche-Sapienza

Si assegnano argomenti di tesi di laurea nell'ambito della psicosomatica, ruolo dello psicologo nei contesti sanitari/ospedalieri, ruolo dei fattori psicologici nelle patologie di interesse medico (con particolare interesse all'ambito cardiologico, reumatologico, neurologico, gastroenterologico, ginecologico), relazione medico-paziente.

E' autrice di oltre 200 pubblicazioni su tematiche che riguardano la psicosomatica e il ruolo di aspetti psicologici in patologie di interesse medico (dolore cronico, fibromialgia, cefalee croniche, vulvodinia, infarto del miocardio, scompenso cardiaco, sindrome di Takotsubo, patologie oncologiche)

Ultime 10 pubblicazioni:

Renzi A….Galli F. Primary headache in developmental age: a case-control study on the role of temperamental sensitivity, attachment dimensions, psychopathological symptoms and relations with parents. Journal of Health Psychology 2025 (i.f. 2.2)

Latella…Galli, Castelli. A randomised pilot study comparing brief psychodynamic therapy with cognitive-behavioural therapy in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Journal of Psychiatric Research 2025 (i.f. 3.2)

Caruso…Galli. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD): A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Psychological and Biological Mechanisms Underlying Intestinal and Extra-Intestinal Symptoms - GastroPsy Study Protocol. BMJ Open 2025 (i.f. 2.4)

Gorini A, Vigorè M, Galli F, Cruciani G, Liotti M, Triberti S, Savioni L, La Rovere MT, Tanzilli A, Lingiardi V, De Luca L, Navazio A, Colivicchi F, Grimaldi M, Sacco A, Oliva F. Cardiologists’ Attitudes Toward Psychological Care: A National Survey on Perceptions, Collaboration and Barriers. Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine 2026 (i.f. 2.9)

Cavicchioli M, Nimbi F, Bottiroli S, Guglielmi D, Castelli L and Galli F. Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Maladaptive Personality Traits in Chronic Pain Conditions: A Network Analysis Perspective. Pain Research and Management 2026, Article ID 8005108. (i.f. 3).

Nimbi FM, Palla L, Bottiroli S, Castelli L, Sarzi-Puttini P, Galli F. A cluster analysis of psychological variables to identify profiles of Nociplastic Pain: A cross-sectional study in women with fibromyalgia, chronic headache and vulvodynia. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2025 (i.f. 3.5)

Marco Cavicchioli, Matteo Scalzeri, Agata Benfante, Alessandro Torelli, Martina Cangelosi Sara Bottiroli, Lorys Castelli, Alberto Caruso, Filippo Maria Nimbia, Martina Mesce, Annalisa Tanzillia, Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini, Federica Galli. Traumatic experiences and central sensitization across the nociplastic pain spectrum. Psychology, Health & Medicine 2026, (i.f. 1.9)

Alessandro Torelli, Martina Mesce, Marco Cavicchioli, Sara Bottiroili, Lorys Castelli, Filippo Maria Nimbi, Martina Cangelosi, Agata Benfante, Annunziata Romeo, Alessia Renzi, Annalisa Tanzilli, Rachele Mariani, Chiara Pazzagli, Michela Di Trani, Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini, Carmen M. Galvez-Sánchez, Federica Galli. Psychodynamic Interventions for Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review. Clinical Neuropsychiatry 2026, (i.f. 2.07), in press

Scalzeri M, Andreini D, Grancini L, …Galli F. Fuzzy boundaries between physical and emotional triggers in Takotsubo syndrome: a scoping review. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2026 (i.f. 2.3)

Caruso A., …Galli F. Prevalence and clinical correlates of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) among patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings 2026, (i.f. 1.9), in press

Gorini A, Vigorè M, Galli F, Cruciani G, Liotti M, Triberti S…Oliva F. Cardiologists’ attitudes toward psychological care: a national survey on perceptions, collaboration and barriers. Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine 2026; 27(3):244-248. (i.f. 2)

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0491-0338