Psychoneuroimmunology

Scholar Year: 2020/2021

Courses

Head Teacher Responsability Maria Helena de Figueiredo Ramos Caria Head Pedro António Pires Ribeiro da Silva Colaborador

Weekly workload Hours/week T TP P PL TC S E EL OT TPL O OT/PL Type of classes 4 Lectures Type Teacher Classes Hours Theoretical Totals 1 4,00 Helena Caria   0,66 Pedro Silva   3,93

Teaching language

Portuguese

Intended learning outcomes (Knowledges, skills and competencies to be developed by the students)

To identify theoretical concepts and models of psychoneuroimmunology
• To use the theoretical concepts in the analysis of nosologic situations of patients.
• To analyse psychological, emotional, psychosocial and cultural components influencing
psychoneuroimmunology and the biological functioning of the body.
• To know the various systems that make up the psychoneuroimmunology and their interactions.• To know and to use the evaluation techniques of psychological, psychosocial and emotional components
that contributes to influence the psiconeuroimunologic system.
• To understand the phenomenon of health and disease in a systemic and holistic perspective using the
conceptualization of psychoneuroimmunology.

Syllabus

1. Study of the interactions between behaviour, and the systems: nervous, endocrine and immunological.
2. The relation between the immunological system with the other body systems.
3. The relation between the endocrine system with the other body systems.
4. The relation of the nervous system, specially the autonomic nervous system with the other body
systems.
5. The role of the individual personality, the emotions and the psychosocial context to understand the
functioning of psychoneuroimmunology.
6. Interactions between the nervous system and the immune system and the relationship between them
and the mental and psychosocial processes.
7. Psychoneuroimmunology and health: a systemic and holistic perspective.

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the UC intended learning outcomes

The integrated and progressive approach to the curricular unit will enable students to develop the
knowledge, skills and competences set out the objectives, ensuring consistency between the syllabus. The
curriculum will enable the student to understand the contribution of psychoneuroimmunology studies on
the physiological functioning of psychoneuroimmunology system in health and disease and how
disturbances in this system cause the emergence and subsequent development of the disease.

Teaching methodologies

Expositive, demonstrative, participative and problem solving.

Demonstration of the teaching methodologies coherence with the curricular unit's intended learning outcomes

The development of the classes held by harmonizing the teaching methodologies with the fundamental
objectives of the curricular unit. This will be a course of exhibition, demonstration and theoretical and
practical but also of reflection and application, where students will learn not only the whole of the syllabus
but also promote critical and reflective spirit on the information conveyed.
The provision of information and scientific knowledge provided the goals will be developed at the
beginning of each issue to address, in lectures, which will be established in relation to other matters
already addressed in previous classes, other courses or even individual knowledge and past experiences.
In these sessions you want It will develop the skills of students and make them aware of the importance of
the issues addressed in the real and current context, contributing to a better environment and greater ease
in perception of the goals to be achieved.
Given the matters to traverse present a practical variant, the classes will be presented and proposed
various exercises and individual cases arising from work in clinical and research developed. Students will
learn to make conscious, reflecting and making decisions on the issues and proposed alternatives,
improving their skills in the topics under review. We will try to stimulate a dialogue in which everyone
participates, through their own experience and knowledge. So share shall be knowledge, doubts and
questions in order to benefit student learning and encourage greater motivation thereof. Find It will
essentially ensure capacity building of "apply in different contexts" the knowledge acquired under the
influence of different factors and variables.
It will be encouraged to carry out individual research or group as an important contribution to achieving
the objectives set for the curricular unit.

Assessment methodologies and evidences

The unit can be effected by: (a) continuous
evaluation, ongoing at the school and that results in the exemption examination period, if the final grade is
equal to or higher than 10, and assuming the formative and summative dimensions; (b) exam, which takes
the summative dimension. The assessment is made by two written tests, each one accounting for 50% and
with 9,5 values of mínimal classification.
The classification of all assessment instruments is expressed on a scale of 0 to 20, and the weighted value
of the marks obtained must be equal or greater than 10. The exam consists in a written test, in which the
approval will require a rating equal to or higher than 10.

Bibliografia

Leader, D. & Corfield, D. (2008). Porque adoecemos? Lisboa: Ed.Bizâncio,
Maia, A. C. (2000). Emoções e sistema imunológico: um olhar sobre a Psiconeuroimunologia. In Psicologia:
Teoria, Investigação e Prática, vol 2, 207-225. Centro de Investigação em Psicologia, Universidade do
Minho.
Schedlowski, M. & Tewes, U. (1999). Psychoneuroimmunology: An Interdisciplinary Introduction. US: Ed.
Springer.