The course in brief
The graduate degree programme in Clinical and Health Psychology: from the Hospital to the Community is a newly established specialist pathway designed to train clinical psychologists capable of addressing emerging challenges in the field of mental health across hospital and community settings.
The programme combines solid theoretical foundations with innovative applied tools, preparing professionals able to assess, diagnose and design personalised interventions across the entire lifespan – from the maternal-infant stage to old age – with particular attention to the prevention of psychological distress and the management of chronic conditions.
Course Outline
Pending initial accreditation by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
The graduate degree programme aims to train professionals with advanced expertise in the assessment, prevention and promotion of mental health and well-being, capable of working in clinical, hospital and community settings according to the bio-psycho-social model of health.
The role of the psychologist in clinical and healthcare contexts is now essential for comprehensive patient care. Psychological support is provided at all levels: from district and community services to home-based palliative care; from social and healthcare support for women, children, couples and families to the management of neuropsychiatric disorders, mental illnesses, disabilities and behavioural addictions.
In this perspective, the educational offering combines psychological knowledge with essential medical training for the management of conditions in which psychological treatment is closely integrated with medical care. Students therefore acquire the knowledge required to work in complex clinical settings and develop a holistic approach to the person, attentive to the interconnection between mind, body and environment.
The course incorporates cutting-edge methods and technologies that expand the scope of traditional diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. These include digital therapies, cyberpsychology, telerehabilitation, virtual and augmented reality, and biomedical devices such as biofeedback, neurofeedback and neuromodulation, applicable in both clinical and neuropsychological contexts.
Students develop theoretical frameworks and practical skills enabling them to carry out assessments, formulate diagnoses and design interventions, both independently and as part of multidisciplinary teams, in various public and private healthcare contexts. The course also places particular emphasis on the development of soft skills and on enhancing the patient experience, to ensure effective management of care relationships throughout the continuum of care – from acute hospital phases to community-based follow-up.