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2020/2021

Psychoendocrinology

Code: 102586 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2502443 Psychology OT 4 1
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Ferran Balada Nicolau
Email:
Ferran.Balada@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Other comments on languages

Complementary material will be used in Spanish and English.

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites, although it is advisable to have completed the basic subjects in the area of psychobiology.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The subject of psychoendocrinology forms part of psychobiology. This optional 6-credit course is usually taken in the fourth year. It is part of the specialised areas of "Child and Adolescence Clinical Psychology" and of "Adult Clinical Psychology". The aim of this subject is to offer knowledge of the neuroendocrine bases of normal behaviour and psychopathology, as well as psychological disorders associated with endocrine disorders. Endocrine diagnostic methods (dynamic endocrine tests,..) will also be analysed.

Competences

  • Analyse scientific texts written in English.
  • Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  • Identify and describe the processes and stages in psychological development through the life cycle.
  • Identify, describe and relate the biology of human behaviour and psychological functions.
  • Make systematic reviews of the different documentary sources in psychology to collect, order and classify research data and materials.
  • Use different ICTs for different purposes.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse scientific texts written in English.
  2. Analyse, synthesize and summarise information from scientific and professional texts.
  3. Describe hormonal changes throughout the life cycle.
  4. Describe the anatomy and physiology of the main endocrine glands.
  5. Describe the different types of hormone and the mechanisms for action.
  6. Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  7. Handle scientific documentation systems.
  8. Identify and describe the hormonal bases in normal and abnormal behaviour.
  9. Plan a literature search or references, both computerized databases and libraries and newspaper archives.
  10. Use different ICTs for different purposes.

Content

BASIC ASPECTS IN PSYCHOENDOCRINOLOGY

Unit 1. - Molecular and anatomical bases in psychoendocrinology.

Unit 2. - Homeostasis and psychoendocrinology.

Unit 3. - Hormones and human life cycles.

CLINICAL ASPECTS IN PSYCHOENDOCRINOLOGY

Unit 4. - Behavioural disorders in endocrinopathies.

Unit 5. - Endocrine alterations in neuro-psychiatric disorders.

Methodology

The methodology is the following:

Lectures.

Case study: Seminars about endocrinological cases.

Autonomous work: Students must prepare two entries, one individually and the other in a group, on aspects related to psychoendocrinology. These works will be done through a wiki application.

Other activities through the virtual campus that include the elaboration of a glossary or the participation in forums.

Classes are taught in Catalan

N.B. The proposed teaching and assessment methodologies may experience some modifications as a result of the restrictions on face-to-face learning imposed by the health authorities. The teaching staff will use the Moodle classroom or the usual communication channel to specify whether the different directed and assessment activities are to be carried out on site or online, as instructed by the Faculty.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Practical lessons 4 0.16 3, 5, 4, 8
Seminars 8 0.32 5, 4, 8
Theoretical classes 24 0.96 3, 5, 4, 8
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 1.5 0.06
Type: Autonomous      
Readings of scientific articles and manuals 40.5 1.62
Study 50 2
Wikis 20 0.8

Assessment

The assessment of the course consists of six evidences of learning. Competences for this subject will be assessed by means of written exams, individual and group tasks, presentations and/or discussions of texts in class. Each of these three sections will be assigned a specific weight in the final grade:

  • 2 online written examinations in which the students answer to a series of questions on the different topics of the programme (weight 20% each examination). The first one will be taken around week 9, while the second one will be taken during week 14-15.
  • One individual written examination on basic concepts of the subject (weight 30%). Second assessment period
  • One individual and one group tasks with the support of wiki systems (weight 10% each task). The individual task is to make a wiki page about a hormone. The group task is to make a wiki page about some aspect of cell biology involved in psychoendocrinology. The specific topics will be indicated during the course. They will be delivered on week 15.
  • Participation in activities, both in classroom and on line (weight 10%).

In accordance with Art. 116, point 10, of the UAB Regulations, should the student carry out any irregularity (copy, plagiarism ...) that may lead to a significant variation of the qualification of an evidence; this assessment will be graded with “zero”. In case there are several irregularities in the evaluation of the same subject, the final grade will be “zero”. For any doubt, on the website https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/graus/graus/avaluacions-1345722525858.html you can consult the Guidelines for the evaluation of the UAB psychology degree.

Final grade

The final grade will be calculated according to the weighted average of each of the learning evidences.

Resit

In the case that the subject is not passed (grade higher than 5), the student will be able to take a resit test in week 19-20 to improve the learning evidence note corresponding to the written tests, as long as they meet the following two criteria:

a)    Obtained a final grade equal to or greater than 3 points (between 3 and 4.9 points), and

b)    The weight of the evidence presented equals to a minimum of 66% of the total qualification of the subject.

The final grade for the subject obtained by the student in case of passing the resit will be five (5).

"Non-assessable" grade

A mark of N/A (Non-Assessable) will be awarded if a student fails to hand in equal or more than 40% of the assessed work used to calculate the final grade.

No unique final synthesis test for students who enrole for the second time or more is anticipated.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Ev1 - Online written examination - Part One 20% 0 0 3, 5, 4
Ev2 - Online written examination - Part Two 20% 0 0 3, 8
Ev3 - Individual Wiki 10% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Ev4 - Group Wiki 10% 0 0 3, 6, 8, 10
Ev5 - Final written examination 30% 2 0.08 3, 5, 4, 8
Ev6 - Participation in classroom activities 10% 0 0 6, 7, 10

Bibliography

Main Bibliography

Jameson, J.L. Harrison's Endocrinology (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical, 2016

Melmed, S; Polonsky, K. Larsen, PL; Kronenberg, HM. Williams textbook of endocrinology (13th Edition). Elsevier 2016 (Existe una traducción en castellano de esta edición publicada por Elsevier el mes de marzo de 2017)

Nestler, EJ; Hyman, SE; Holtzman, DM &Malenka, RC Molecular Neuropharmacology. A Fundation for Clinical Neuroscience. McGraw Hill Education 2015 (Se ha publicado una traducción al castellano en versión electrónica por McGraw Hill el mes de febrero de 2017)

Pfaff, D.W. & Joëls, M. Hormones, Brain, and Behavior (3rd Ed). Academic Press 2017

Supplementary Bibliography

Belfiore, A. & LeRoith, D. Principles of Endocrinology and Hormone Action. Springer. 2018

Birkhaeuser, M. & Gennazzani, A.R. Pre-Menopause, Menopause and Beyond. International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. 2018

DeGroot, L.J. & Jameson, J.L. Endocrinology. Elsevier Saunders. 2010

Dickson, S.L. & Mercer, J.G. Neuroendocrinology of Appetite. Willey Blackell 2016

Ergin, A.B.; Kennedy, A.L.; Gupta, M.K.; Hamrahian, A.H. The Cleveland Clinic Manual of Dynamic Endocrine Testing. Springer. 2015

Gore, A.C.; Dickerson, S.M. Endocrine Disruptors and the Developing Brain. Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences. 2012

Kleine, B & Rossmanith, WG Hormones and the Endocrine System. Textbook of Endocrinology. Springer International Publishing 2016

Krauss, G. Biochemistry of Signal Transduction and Regulation. Wiley-VCH. 2014

Lovejoy, D. Neuroendocrinology, an integrated approach. John Wiley & Sons. 2005

Martínez Sanchis, S. Hormonas, estado de ánimo y función cognitiva. Delta publicaciones. 2007

Molina, P.E. Endocrine Physiology. McGraw Hill Medical. 2013

Murphy, D. & Gainer, H. Molecular Neuroendocrinology: From Genome to Physiology. Willey Blackell 2016

Neave, N. Hormones and Behaviour. A psychological Approach. Cambridge University Press. 2008

Nelson, R.J. Psicoendocrinologia. Las bases hormonales de la conducta. Ed. Ariel. 1996

Nelson, R. J. & Kriegseld, L.J. An Introduction to behavioral endocrinology (5th ed.) Sinauer Associates, Oxford University Press . 2016

New, M.I.; Lekarev, O.; Parsa, A.; Yuen, T.T.; o'Malley, B.W. & Hammer, G.D. Genetic Steroid Disorders.Elsevier BV, 2014

Patisaul, H.B. & Belcher, S.M. Endocrine disruptors, Brain, and Behavior. Oxford University Press 2017

Pfaff, D.W.; Kordon, C.; Chanson, P.; Christen, Y. Hormones and Social Behavior. Springer-Verlag 2008

Russell, J.A. & Shipston, M.J. Neuroendocrinology of Stress. Willey Blackell 2016

Spengler, D. & Binder, E. (Eds) Epigenetics and Neuroendocrinology. Clinical Focus on Psychiatry (2 vols.) Springer International Publishing 2016

Wolkowitz, O.M. & Rothschild, A.J. Psychoneuroendocrinology. The Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. Washington. 2003