Health psychology intervention

Teacher(s)

Mikolajczak Moïra;

Language

French

Main themes

The aim of the course is first to familiarize students with the symptoms and difficulties associated with the most common health disorders. For each disorder, the student will be informed of the frequent psychological comorbidities, the most common psychological needs and the general lines of medical treatment. The second aim of the course is help students determine the most adequate psychological intervention for each medical disorder and enable them to apply and adapt them to the specificities of the patient and the context. 
The former aims will be achieved for each of the most frequent problematics in health psychology : stress, burnout, sleep disorders, chronic pain, perinatalogy, obesity, cancer, coronary-heart disorders, spinal cord injuries, amputations, palliative care and euthanasia.
Each year, one lesson is devoted to a useful approach in health psychology (already covered: Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, this year : Hypnosis) 

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	In reference with the learning outcomes of the Master in Psychological Science, this activity contributes to the following learning outcomes: At the end of the course, the student will be able to adequately analyse a situation in health psychology with reference to available theories and empirical evidence (B1). On this basis, the student will be able to identify relevant psychological interventions which take into account the specificities of the patient and of the context (B2), to distinguish between scientifically-based interventions and common-sense interventions (E2), to explain the methodology used for planning, implementing and evaluating the intervention. The students will also be capable to communicate in a clear, relevant and straightforward way the result of their observations, analysis and intervention (C1-C2). La contribution de cette UE au développement et à la maîtrise des compétences et acquis du (des) programme(s) est accessible à la fin de cette fiche, dans la partie « Programmes/formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE) ».

Content

Topics covered:
The aim of this course is to understand the symptoms and difficulties caused by the most common severe health problems. For each of these, the student will learn about their most frequent psychological comorbidities, the most common psychosocial needs of patients suffering from them, and the main lines of medical management. On the other hand, the aim is to know and understand the psychological intervention strategies appropriate to each problem, and to be able to apply and adapt them according to the specificities of the individual and the context.
These different themes are addressed successively for each of the most common pathologies (which define the main areas of intervention in health psychology): sleep disorders, migraines, chronic low back pain, smoking, alcoholism, obesity, perinatal care, cancer, coronary heart disease, spinal cord injury and limb amputation, dementia, palliative care, annoucing a bad news.

Teaching methods

The majority of course sessions are given by practitioners who are experts in the issue concerned.
The structure of a course session typically consists of a presentation (video or face-to-face) by a (french-speaking) practitioner who is an expert in the issue addressed. Each session is followed by a personal case study, enabling students to learn how to apply the material to real-life situations.
The course is mainly delivered remotely, but includes a few face-to-face sessions. Depending on the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic, it is possible that the course will be given entirely remotely.

Evaluation methods

• Written assignments completed during the academic year and oral examination: 50% of the total course grade

• Case studies to be completed individually* and submitted on Moodle by the indicated deadlines**
• Case studies completed by peers to be commented on Moodle by the indicated deadlines
• The final “class session” will consist of an interview with the teaching assistant. During this interview, one of the vignettes you worked on during the year will be selected at random, and your response—this time given orally—will be assessed by the teaching assistant. This assessment will be worth 50% of the points. Only students who have submitted all their assignments on Moodle on time will take the oral examination. Students who cannot take the oral examination will receive zero for this component.

• Written examination: 50% of the total course grade
Assessment of knowledge and skills (application)
The examination consists of a case study.
f the student fails the course during the January examination session, they will retake, during the August examination session, the component(s) they failed. 
For the assignments (but not for the examination), students may use the resources available to them, including ChatGPT. However, students must incorporate and supplement these resources with the material covered in class. Students remain entirely responsible for the work they submit.
**Submission of all assignments to be completed during the academic year is required. Pursuant to Article 72 of the General Regulations on Studies and Examinations, the course instructor may ask the examination board to oppose the registration of a student who has not submitted all the required assignments during the January or September examination session. The final assessment for the course unit is based on the submission of the assignments (50% of the grade) and a written examination (50% of the grade). Pursuant to Article 72 of the General Regulations on Studies and Examinations, the course instructor may ask the examination board to oppose the registration for the examination of a student who has not submitted the assignments within the required deadlines.

Other information

The course is given exclusively in French, and unfortunately no English slides or equivalent core reading are available for international students.
The course involves regular written assignments that are provided in French. However, international students taking this course can answer the coursework in English.
The standard exam is a written exam in French. However, international students taking this course:

• are allowed to use a dictionary when taking the written exam in French:
• will be allowed 33% more time when taking the written exam in French if they contact the teacher 30 days before the exam by email to ask for this additional time. Please write using your official student email adress because, otherwise, your email might go into the teacher's spam folder. An acknowledgement of receipt from the teacher is required.
• are provided with the opportunity to take the written exam in English if they contact the teacher 30 days before the exam by email to ask for an English version of the exam. Please write using your official student email adress because, otherwise, your email might go into the teacher's spam folder. An acknowledgement of receipt from the teacher is required.

Online resources

Online resources*:
- The Moodle course page (course LPSY2822)
- The course videos available on EZcast (course LPSY2822)
- The slides (for practitioners who work with slides, but not all) posted on the Moodle platform as they become available (LPSY2822 course);
- The case studies posted on the Moodle platform (LPSY2822 course) and/or completed during the year;
*! Please note: all resources are in French !

Bibliography

Mikolajczak, M. (Dir.). (2013). Les interventions en psychologie de la Santé. Paris: Dunod.

Teaching materials

• Mikolajczak, M. (Dir.). (2013). Les interventions en psychologie de la Santé. Paris: Dunod.
• Etudes de cas et slides postés au fur et à mesure des séances sur Moodle (LPSY2822)
• Notes personnelles prises par l'étudiant durant les cours
• Les témoignages des professionnels (en vidéo ou en live)

Faculty or entity

> EPSY