Child Neurology and Psychiatry and Developmental Psychopathology - NEUROPSICHIATRIA INFANTILE (2016/2017)

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Course code
4S001197
Name of lecturer
Alessandro Simonati
Number of ECTS credits allocated
4
Academic sector
MED/39 - CHILD NEUROPSYCHIATRY
Language of instruction
Italian
Period
Lab. IIA, Sem. IIA

To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link * Course organization

Lesson timetable

Learning outcomes

Aim of the course is to introduce students to the principles of neurodevelopment, taking into account their future professional skills and requirements, in a child school setting. The course will be divided into two main parts. First, developmental issues will be illustrated: the concept of development as the by-product of genetically determined characteristics of any subject and the environment, focusing on both the prenatal environment (maternal physical and emotional conditions) and on what occurs post-natally in relation with the early newborn-mother interactions. Then it will be discussed the issue of the CNS development and its commitment at birth for main human activities to develop. Lastly, the concept of the evolution from function to competence will be discussed, and the main trajectories associated with the maturation of human functions in childhood will be outlined. The processes of acquisition of motor, linguistic, cognitive, emotional competences will be discussed and commented with the students. In the second part of the course, students will deal with aspects of abnormal development and/or neuropsychiatric issues. A number of topics will be discussed, giving a definition of the condition and providing examples of situations in which the students may have to tackle in a class-room, or elsewhere during their professional activity. As a major goal we wish to provide an approach which allow them to identify the best performances an affected child can give as well as to recognize signs and symptoms which may require an immediate intervention; the role of emotional distress as a trigger for symptom manifestation as well as for functional impairment of some competences will be outlined. The following subjects will be illustrated: Motor Disability, Intellectual Disability, Disorders of Communication (including disorders of Language Development), Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficits (including the concept of ADHD), Convulsions and Seizures, Headache, Pain, Sleep Disorders.

Syllabus

The general issues of the following topics will be described. Moreover clinical cases and sketches related to school-settings will be illustrated. Students are recommended to report their personal experiences, which will be shared with their colleagues in the class-room and discussions are encouraged under teacher's guide.
Child Development: Prenatal Development; First Year of Life
Principles of Neurodevelopment of Preschool Toddlers
Principles of Neurodevelopment of School-Age Children
Play as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool
Developmental Motor and Movement Disorders
Disorders of Language Development
Intellectual Disability
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Disturbances of Attention (including ADHD)
Cerebral Palsy and Motor Disabilities
Epilepsy and Epileptic Disorders; Non Convulsive Manifestations (pseudo-seizures)
Psychosomatic Manifestations; Headache, Pain, Sleep Disorders

Suggested Texts (for consultation)
Ammaniti M. Manuale di Psicopatologia dell’Infanzia. Milano: Raffaello Cortina, 2001
Brazelton T. B. Il bambino da zero a tre anni. Fabbri Editore, Milano, 2003
Martinetti MG, Stefanini MC Approccio Evolutivo alla Neuropsichiatria dell’Infanzia e dell’Adolescenza SEID Editori, Firenze, 2008
Winnicott, DW Gioco e realtà, trad. Giorgio Adamo e Renata Gaddini, prefazione di Renata Gaddini, Roma: Armando, 1974

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral Examination.
Presentation of a topic by the student: he will freely choose which topic to discuss among those taught during the course. That will be followed by a brief discussion led by the examiner on a related issue

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2016/2017


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