Syllabus Information

1. General information

The objective of this subject is for students to develop and work on an integral conception of health. Currently, the understanding and treatment of diseases (physical and mental) is a fundamental goal for psychology. This is why we seek to promote work on intervention models complementary to traditional ones, in which emphasis is placed on the integral wellbeing of the person, their strengths and capabilities. In addition, it is intended that students develop an approach based on procedures supported by empirical evidence.

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/),These approaches are aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), so that the acquisition of the learning results of the subject provides training and competence to contribute to some extent to their achievement Goal 3: Health and well-being. Goal 5: Gender equality. Goal 16: Peace, justice and solid institutions.

2. Learning results

• The student will be able to critically analyse and use sources of clinical information.
• The student will be able to formulate working hypotheses in research, collect and critically assess information for problem solving, applying the scientific method.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the psychological nature of human behaviour, as well as the social and biological factors that can affect it.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the psychological nature of human behavioural disorders.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the psychosocial factors associated with health problems and disease.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the biological and psychosocial factors associated with health problems and disease, especially those related to mental health.
• The student will have an in-depth knowledge of the different models of evaluation and intervention in the field of General Health Psychology, as well as the techniques and procedures derived from them for the approach to behavioural disorders.
• The student will be able to design, develop and, if necessary, supervise and evaluate psychological intervention plans and programmes according to the psychological assessment and the individual and social variables involved in each case.
• The student will be able to carry out activities for the promotion of and education for individual and community psychological health.

3. Syllabus

Topic 1 - Introduction to health psychology. Health-disease process. The biopsychosocial model

Topic 2 - The concepts of quality of life and well-being

Topic 3 - The challenges of evaluation in the health field

Topic 4 - Pain and stress as central problems in medical diseases.

Topic 5 - Psychological intervention in patients with medical illnesses.

Topic 6 - Challenges in the field of intervention  

Topic 7 - Caring for the caregiver and health care personnel

Topic 8 - Death, bereavement and end of life

4. Academic activities

The general activities to be carried out during the four-month period of the subject will be:

1) Presentation of the subject

2) Definition of the assessment criteria and the practical activities

3) Explanation of the theoretical-practical contents

4) Continuous assessment of student progress

5) Hand out of material for the preparation of written work and/or oral presentations.

6) Final assessment

5. Assessment system

The following assessment activities are proposed:

1. Written test (grade from 0 to 10) at the end of the term. The grade will account for 40% of the final grade. The test will contain multiple choice and short answer questions.
2. Continuous work in the classroom. The grade will be 60% of the final grade. 

Students will be able to carry out the continuous assessment activities as long as class attendance is not

below 80% of the teaching hours of the subject.

To pass the subject, the student must achieve a minimum grade of 5 points in each of the continuous assessment activities.

In any case, the student is entitled to a global assessment of the subject in which they may opt for the maximum grade. This assessment will take place on the dates set in the academic calendar.