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

Fundamentals of Mental Health

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
PMUPK_032
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Public Health
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 promote the acquisition of knowledge about the regularities of human psychic functioning, the interaction of social and psychic processes, the mechanisms of crisis development and crisis management, as well as to gain an idea of the psychodynamic processes taking place in communication.

Preliminary Knowledge

Anatomy and physiology of the nervous system.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Students will be able to describe the structure, development and regularities of functioning of human personality, as well as the influence of emotional and social factors on human psychological development and functioning; crisis development mechanisms, their impact on human psychosocial functioning and crisis management options.

Skills

1.Students will be able to resolve conflicts and use crisis management techniques in practical exercises.

Competences

1.Students will analyse different types of examples of personality traits and relationships, analyse different group processes and conflict situations in clinical examples.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
-
-
To get acquainted with appropriate literature before each class, prepare questions. Preparation and analysis of patient case descriptions. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
-
-
Criteria for assessing students’ knowledge: I. Knowledge – the ability to define: 75%: 1. Patient mental health criteria (15%) 2. Patient mental protection mechanisms (15%) 3. Personality definitions, theories of development, levels of personality functioning of patients (15%) 4. The notion of psychosomatic disorders and diseases, theories of somatization (15%) 5. Differences in communication with patients and with customers (15%). II. Skills: 25%: 1. Principles of public health specialist-patient/client relationship building (25%). Automatic pass in the exam: 1. 100% class and lecture attendance. AND 2. The student actively participates in discussions and role plays. 3. According to the lecturer’s instructions – writing an essay of 5-6 pages, in which the questions asked by the lecturer are analysed. OR Preparing a presentation on: a) a topic of cycle classes (literature review); b) a clinical case; c) the latest research (according to the topic of the class).

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

1. Mental health criteria. The unity of mental and physical health - anatomical, physiological, social aspects. The biopsychosocial model in medicine. The main etiopathogenetic factors of diseases and disorders in the opinion of a public health specialist.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Mental health and psychosomatic disorders and diseases, interrelationships thereof. Incidence of psychosomatic patients. Types of psychosomatic diseases and disorders, prevalence, challenges they pose to the health care system.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

1. Differences in building communication and therapeutic relationship. Medicine and the patient (“the inadmissibility of ‘client’ in medicine”). Aspects of the interaction between ethics and professionalism. 2. The ability to listen. Active and passive listening. Talking. Pauses. The difference between a casual conversation and a professional conversation. 3. Empathy, sympathy and antipathy in communication. Role of emotions in communication.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The concepts of stress, distress and eustress. Stress management. Emotional crises, types. Prevention of emotional crises. Crisis intervention.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The concept of personality. The topographical and structural model of the functioning of the psyche. Forms of the expression of subconsciousness in everyday life: slip of the tongue and formation of symptoms, conflict between the conscious and unconscious feelings. Mental defence mechanisms.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Levels of personality functioning and types of personality organisation. 1. Neurotic level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms, internal conflict and ability to form relationships. 2. Borderline level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms, internal conflict and ability to form relationships. 3. Psychotic level of functioning: identity, contact with the reality, mental defence mechanisms.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Group discussion of the first lecture material. Biopsychosocial model in medicine. Heatlhcare systems role in the concept of health.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Group discussion of the second lecture material. Psuchosomatic medicine- etiology of symptoms, clinics, treatment options. Role of doctor-patients relationship in the management of psychosomatic disorders.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Seminar and group discussion on depressive, manic personality structure. Patient case. 1. Depressive personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation. 2. Manic personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Seminar and group discussion on narcissistic personality structure. Patient case. Narcissistic personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation. Analysis of video materials.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Seminar and group discussion on obsessive-compulsive structure. Patient case. Obsessive-compulsive personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations, specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Seminar and group discussion on masochistic personality structure. Patient case. Masochistic personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Seminar and group discussion on hysterical and dissociative personality structure. Patient case. 1. Hysterical personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation. 2. Dissociative personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Seminar and group discussion on paranoid and schizoid personality structure. Patient case. 1. Paranoid personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation. 2. Schizoid personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Seminar and group discussion on antisocial personality structure. Patient case. Antisocial personality organisation: leading affects, mental defence mechanisms, coping strategies, internal conflict, object relations; specifics of the patient-doctor relationship formation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Closing topics. Examination (written).
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Women at higher risk for inflation-related stress, 24.05.2023

2.

Medical-level empathy? Yup, chatGPT can fake that, 4.05.2023

3.

Melatonin a new way to reduce self-harm, 27.03.2023

4.

Epigenetics, satiety, and predictive markers of obesity, 27.02.2023

5.

Beyond the psychedelic effect: ayahuasca as antidepressant, 10.02.2023

6.

Emotional eating tied to risk for diastolic dysfunction, 19.01.2023

7.

Vegetarians suffer more depression than meat eaters, 27.12.2022

8.

Greater Handgrip Strength tied to lower risk for depression, 20.12.2022

9.

What happens when doctors and patients interrupt each other?, 23.11.2022

10.

German survey on assisted suicide: how to handle this? Where should caution be exercised?, 16.09.2022

11.

Social isolation, Loneliness tied to death, MI, stroke: AHA, 4.08.2022

12.

Physicians react: burnout rates are alarming, so who should drive change? 6.06.2022

13.

K. Abrahamsson. R. Ennals. Sustainable work in Europe. Concepts, Conditions, Challenges. 2022 Edited Collection. 342 Pages

14.

Empathy fatigue in clinicians rises with latest COVID-19 surge, 16.09.2021

15.

Why men need mind-body medicine now more than ever, 2.04.2020

16.

G.Ancāne, A.Utināns, A.Ancāns, A.Miksons. Chapter 16: Psychosomatic Medicine in the Baltic States, Soviet Union, and the Russian Federation./ Leigh, Hoyle. Global Psychosomatic Medicine and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: Theory, Research, Education, and Practice / Springer International Publishing, 2019. -VIII, 365-382. (atbilstošā nodaļa ir ievietota e-vidē)

17.

Why do we love sad music? Mourning our pain, 27.11.2018

18.

The 8 things that end childhood too soon: what clinicians should know, 30.06.2017

19.

Why do depressed doctors suffer in silence? – 27.06.2017

20.

Stress and depression mediated by single brain protein, 20.11.2014

21.

How the brain responds to trauma, 24.09.2014

22.

Long work hours wreak havoc in MDs, Personal lives, 23.09.2013

23.

Nature, Niche, and nurture. The role of social experience in transforming genotype into phenotype, 11.10.2011

24.

Gunta Ancāne. Krīze, phenomenon ranularum un psihiskā veselība. Latvijas ārsts, 2009, 12, 10-13. (akceptējams izdevums)

25.

Arturs Utināns. Cilvēka psihe. Tās darbība, funkcionēšanas traucējumi un ārstēšanas iespējas. Nacionālais apgāds. 2005. 568 lpp. (akceptējams izdevums)

26.

Implementing the care programme approach in psychotherapeutics settings, 2004

27.

Post-traumatic stress disorder: symptom profiles in men and women, 2003

28.

Physical symptoms and physician-experienced difficulty in the physician –patient relationship, 1.05.2001

29.

Džons Boulbijs. Drošais pamats. Rasa, ABC. 1998. (akceptējams izdevums)

Additional Reading

1.

Gunta Ancāne. Hronisku sāpju stāvokļu psihosomatiska izpratne//Latvijas Ārsts.- 2004. Nr1.- 40- 43

2.

Gunta Ancāne. Ķermeņa un psihes saistība//Psiholoģijas Pasaule.-2004.-Nr.1-38.-43.lpp

3.

Gunta Ancāne. Psihosomatiskās medicīnas definīcija un īsa tās ideju attīstības vēsture//Psiholoģijas Pasaule.2004.2. 36- 40.

4.

Gunta Ancāne. Sirds–asinsvadu sistēmas un elpošanas sistēmas psihosomatiska.//Psiholoģijas pasaule.-2004./6; 34-39.

5.

Gunta Ancāne. "Ārsta un pacienta terapeitisko attiecību psihoemocionālie aspekti." //Latvijas Ārsts.-2005/6. 77.-79.

6.

Gunta Ancāne. “Psihosomatiskie traucējumi un slimības” //Psiholoģijas Pasaule.-2004/04; 44.-49.

7.

Gunta Ancāne. “Ēšana kā komunikācija un ēšanas traucējumi” //Psiholoģijas Pasaule.-2004/05; 18.-23.

8.

Gunta Ancāne. “21.gadsimta modernā slimība – izsīkuma jeb izdegšanas sindroms” //Psiholoģijas Pasaule.-2004/07; 26-31.

9.

Gunta Ancāne, D.Šmite, A.Ancāns. Emocionāla distresa un muskuloskeletālas disfunkcijas mijiedarbība pacientiem ar hroniskām muguras lejasdaļas sāpēm/ /Zinātniskie raksti: 2006.g.medicīnas nozares pētnieciskā darba publikācijas. RSU.-Rīga, 2007.-86.-96.lpp.

10.

Daniel Goleman. Tava emocionālā inteliģence Rīga : Jumava, 2019