Postgraduate School of Psychiatry

Integrated Learning Objectives (i.e., Common Core)
The trainee must have acquired satisfactory theoretical knowledge and professional competence in the recognition and treatment, including emergency and urgency, of the most common pathologies in internal medicine and developmental medicine.
For all categories of the class, given the specific cultural interconnections between them, the credits for the common core of related specialties must include:
- Theoretical knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the central and peripheral nervous system;
- General theoretical knowledge of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders throughout the various stages of the life cycle;
- Basic theoretical knowledge and practical experience of diagnostic methods, including differential diagnosis (clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, electrophysiological techniques, chemical-biological tests, and psychometric assessments) of neurological and psychiatric disorders throughout the life cycle;
- Theoretical knowledge and clinical-practical experience (including emergency situations) related to the main neurological and psychiatric disorders at various stages of the life cycle, including neurological and psychiatric complications of internal medicine diseases;
- Basic theoretical knowledge and clinical-practical experience related to the main prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation techniques for neurological and psychiatric disorders throughout the life cycle.

Basic Educational Objectives
Knowledge of the anatomical and physiological aspects of the nervous structures involved in psychiatric processes; the biochemical, physiological, endocrinological, and neuroradiological correlates of psychiatric syndromes; the concepts of genetics and genetic transmission in relation to mental illnesses; and understanding of the principles of genetic research in psychiatry. Application of Statistics to Epidemiological and Clinical Research in Psychiatry

General Training Objectives
Knowledge of the history of medicine and psychiatry

School Type Educational Objectives
- Expertise in general psychopathology and the psychopathological aspects of various forms of mental illness; expertise in psychiatric methodology, including the use of categorical and dimensional psychiatric diagnostic and assessment tools, adequate interpretation of differential diagnostic profiles, and a rational approach to recommending and evaluating therapies.
- Clinical psychiatry skills, including knowledge of the diagnostic, clinical, and prognostic characteristics of psychiatric illnesses in youth, adulthood, and advanced age, personality disorders, drug and addiction disorders, psychosomatic illnesses, and clinical management and care guidelines.
- Acquisition of the technical and methodological skills necessary to treat various clinical conditions, including crisis situations and consultation and liaison psychiatry, with the correct use of the various classes of psychotropic drugs in an integrated manner with various psychiatric therapies, to develop prevention, management, treatment, and rehabilitation plans, including relationships and collaboration with patients' families.
- Knowledge of the class, mechanism of action, kinetics, indications, contraindications, adverse effects, toxicity, withdrawal syndromes, and clinical use of psychotropic drugs.
- Knowledge of the characteristics and application areas of other biological therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and sleep deprivation.
- Expertise in the area of psychotherapy, with knowledge of the theoretical foundations and techniques of individual, family, and group psychotherapy, and acquisition of the tools necessary for practicing specific structured forms of psychotherapy.
- Social psychiatry skills, including knowledge of the social correlates of mental illness, various rehabilitation and resocialization methods, and ethical and legal aspects of patient relationships, professional liability, expert witness work, and voluntary and mandatory health assessments and treatments.
- Methodological skills for clinical and epidemiological research in psychiatry


Mandatory professional development activities to achieve the educational objectives of this type of training include:
1) Having treated at least 30 patients, establishing diagnoses and prognoses through voluntary hospitalization and mandatory medical treatment, outpatient and community-based treatment, including home visits, gradually acquiring skills in psychopharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and rehabilitation treatments.
2) Having followed at least 5 cases in supervised psychotherapy over the entire four-year period;
3) Having followed at least 10 cases with psychiatric rehabilitation programs agreed upon with the multi-professional team in various settings such as home, day hospital, day center, and rehabilitation residences, also involving family members in the rehabilitation intervention;
4) Have participated in the conduct of at least three clinical studies, according to good clinical practice standards, to deepen the knowledge of psychiatric research methodology, acquiring skills in the use of evaluation tools specific to the research in question, with a particular focus on outcome assessment. At the end of the four years, the trainee must be able to contribute to the drafting of scientific papers and their publication, preferably in indexed journals;
5) Have carried out, under the supervision of a tutor, at least 20 consultation and liaison psychiatry interventions;
6) Have followed at least five cases diagnosed with eating disorders;
7) Have carried out at least 20 interventions, under tutor supervision, in urgent/emergency situations, gradually acquiring a high degree of autonomy;
8) Have used tools to formulate a categorical diagnosis and assess psychopathology, cognitive status, social functioning, and the caregiving burden of their family members on at least 20 patients, and have acquired skills in electroencephalography, neuroimaging, and psychophysiology;
9) Have treated at least 3 cases related to psychogeriatrics;
10) Must have acquired at least 5 practical experiences related to the ethical and legal issues of psychiatric practice and the provision of psychiatric assessments.
The trainee may apply for the diploma after completing the professional development activities.
As part of the training program, the trainee must learn the scientific foundations of the School's typology in order to achieve full maturity and professional competence, including an adequate ability to interpret scientific innovations and a critical understanding that allows them to consciously manage both care and their own professional development. In this context, participation in meetings, conferences, the production of scientific publications, and periods of attendance at qualified Italian and foreign institutions useful for his/her training may be envisaged.