Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 25/26.R.1.00

Description Period: 2025./26 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Psychosomatic Medicine and Basic Principles of Psychotherapy for Midwives

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
PMUPK_037
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Midwifery
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Laura Valaine
Structure Unit Manager
Māris Taube
Structural Unit
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
Contacts

Riga, 30 Kristapa Street, pmpk@rsu.lv, +371 67210989

About Study Course

Objective

To raise awareness of etiology, developmental mechanism, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychosomatic disorders; to promote awareness of personal development and basic needs, to develop the skills for developing the therapeutic relationship between the midwife and the patient; promote the acquisition and application of medical psychotherapy techniques in clinical work.

Preliminary Knowledge

Interpersonal communication in health care, functional and pathological physiology, internal and surgical diseases.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Students will acquire knowledge of the interaction between psychiatric and somatic processes, basic knowledge of personal development, psychotherapy process, and the importance and formation of maternal-patient therapeutic relationships.

Skills

1.Students will develop the skills to recognise psychosomatic symptoms and their developmental mechanisms, develop therapeutic relationships with the patient and gain skills in providing psychoemotional support.

Competences

1.Students will be able to analyze the role of biological, emotional and social factors in the etiology and pathogenesis of diseases. To understand and analyze the need for psychotherapy for pregnant women, to understand the diagnostic criteria and the need for combined therapy.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
-
-

Familiarise yourself with relevant literature before each lesson, prepare questions.

Prepare a clinical case description of midwife-patient therapeutics from their clinical experience.

At the end of the course, each student must complete a study course assessment questionnaire.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
-
10 points

The assessment of the exam is cumulative.

It consists of:

  1. mid-semester examinations have an average score of 50%. During the study course, students have 3 mid-semester examinations, the form of which is determined by the teaching staff of choice - multi-stage test, open questions and/or clinical case analysis.
  2. Final test - 50%. A multi-answer test organised in person (electronised in e-studies or paper format) on topics discussed within the course.

The automatic final test may be counted against all of the following criteria:

  • the assessment of each mid-semester examination shall be the
  • attendance of at least 8 100% of the classes;
  • Prepared and presented presentation on the topic
  • of active participation in discussions and role plays.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

History and theories of psychosomatic medicine. Biopsychosocial model. Physician-patient therapeutic relationship.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Emotions, their role in the somatization process. Alexithymia.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Psychic defense mechanisms. Stress coping strategies.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Theories of personality development.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Medical psychotherapy.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Emotions, alexithymia. Psychic defence mechanisms.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The concept of personality, models of the structure of the psyche

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Family - concept, functional and dysfunctional family, psychosomatic family.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Stress. Effects of stress on the pregnant woman and the child, epigenetics. Effects of pregnancy on a woman's brain, mental and cognitive state.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Special psychosomatics - cardiovascular psychosomatics, respiratory system psychosomatics, gastroenterological psychosomatics, dermatological psychosomatics, endocrine psychosomatics.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Special psychosomatics - urogenital psychosomatics, psychosomatic aspects of infertility. Pain and somatoform disorders.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Maternal-patient therapeutic relationship

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Basic principles of crisis, PTSD, supportive therapy and crisis intervention. Mourning, loss.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Basic principles of crisis, PTSD, supportive therapy and crisis intervention. Mourning, loss.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Basics of psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Midwife-patient therapeutic relationship. Role playing. Exam.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Sudraba, V., Skaldere-Darmudasa, G. (2022). Psihosomatiskā medicīna. Rīga: RSU.

2.

Fritzsche, K., McDaniel, S.H., Wirsching, M. (eds.) (2020). Psychosomatic medicine. 2nd ed. Springer

Additional Reading

1.

Kulbergs J. (2001). Dinamiskā psihiatrija. Rīga: Jumava.

2.

Lövheim H. (2012). A new three-dimensional model for emotions and monoamine neurotransmitters. Medical Hypotheses. 78: 341–348.

Other Information Sources

1.

Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine