Psychology and Nutrition
Objectives
To obtain knowledge about human behaviour relevant to the practice of Clinical Nutrition and Community Nutrition/ Public Health. Overall, the CU aims to develop: (1) knowledge about health psychology, with a focus on eating behaviours: the normal-pathological continuum and the integration of neurobiological and psychosocial models; (2) understanding the person in health and disease contexts, along with socio-cultural determinants of behaviour; (3) general attitudes, knowledge and skills related to counselling and behavioural change, with a focus on basic skills interviewing and communication in Clinical Nutrition; and (4) basic knowledge of the mental disorders which are most related to eating behaviours.
The CU also aims to enhance basic skills necessary for nutritionists (therapeutic relationship, autonomy, team work abilities, research and communication of results).
General characterization
Code
41035
Credits
Available soon
Responsible teacher
Jaime Manuel Novo Grácio,ANA CATARINA DOMINGUES PEREIRA SANTOS,SUSANA ISABEL MATEUS SANTOS
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - 0
Teaching language
PT
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Bibliography
Not applicable
Teaching method
Weekly, each student will have 2.5 hours of learning activity through lectures and
seminars. The lectures will be conducted mainly through expository learning, on
person or recorded (accessible to students). The seminars will include expository
practical applications case studies/ examples and films/ other teaching materials
introduce the students to interviewing techniques/ clinical communication, using
role-plays. The remaining seminars will include supervision in order to prepare one
assignment to be presented at the end of the semester.
Evaluation method
The evaluation will include
a written exam and an assignment on a specific theme, to be discussed in public.
The final grade is the arithmetic mean of the written exam and the assignment.
Subject matter
1) Contributions of Psychology for Clinical Nutrition and Community Nutrition/ Public Health;
2) Introduction to mental functioning (models), cognitive functions, personality;
3) Human development/ life cycle;
4) Family, occupational and sociocultural factors in human behaviour;
5) Stress and coping in health/ disease;
6) Psychosocial and cultural determinants of eating behaviour. Eating styles. Acquisition of eating habits throughout the life cycle. Learning, cognitions and emotions in eating behaviour. Psychological factors in obesity;
7) Psychological adaptation to disease e.g. metabolic problems. Reactions to hospitalization and terminal illness;
8) Changing eating behaviours: stages and strategies;
9) Basic techniques of communication and counselling in Clinical Nutrition. Motivational interviewing and treatment adherence. Common factors in therapeutic relationships. Difficult situations;
10) Mental disorders as related to altered eating behaviour (e.g. eating disorders, depression).