Psychoendocrinology
Code: 102586 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Ferran Balada Nicolau
- Email:
- ferran.balada@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
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 specialized 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.
- 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
- Analyse scientific texts written in English.
- Analyse, synthesize and summarise information from scientific and professional texts.
- Describe hormonal changes throughout the life cycle.
- Describe the anatomy and physiology of the main endocrine glands.
- Describe the different types of hormone and the mechanisms for action.
- Handle scientific documentation systems.
- Identify and describe the hormonal bases in normal and abnormal behaviour.
- Plan a literature search or references, both computerized databases and libraries and newspaper archives.
- 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. - Behavioral disorders in endocrinopathies.
Unit 5. - Endocrine alterations in neuro-psychiatric disorders.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Seminars | 12 | 0.48 | 3, 5, 4, 7 |
| Theoretical classes | 24 | 0.96 | 3, 5, 4, 7 |
| 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 |
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
Use of AI:
For this subject, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted only for correcting texts or translations for evidence 1, 2, 4 and 5. Students must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on its influence. Failure to be transparent about the use of AI in these assessable activities will be considered academic dishonesty and may result in a partial or total penalty for the activity, or a more severe penalty in serious cases.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous 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, 7 |
| Ev3 - Individual Wiki | 10% | 0 | 0 | 2, 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Ev4 - Group Wiki | 10% | 0 | 0 | 3, 7, 9 |
| Ev5 - Final written examination | 30% | 2 | 0.08 | 3, 5, 4, 7 |
| Ev6 - Participation in classroom activities | 10% | 0 | 0 | 6, 9 |
This subject does not consider single 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. The translation of the on-site evaluation exams will be provided if the criteria outlined in Article 263 are fulfilled and the application is submitted via the e-form online in week 4 (further details are available on the faculty website).
Each of these three sections will be assigned a specific weight in the final grade:
- 2 online written examinations (Ev1 and Ev2) in which the students individually answer to a series of questions, raised with clinical cases, on the different topics of the program (weight 20% each examination). The first one will be taken around the first assessment period (week 9), while the second one will be taken during week 14-15. The feedback of these evaluative activities will be made in writing, indicating the correction criteria, within a maximum period of three weeks after the activity has been carried out.
- One individual written examination (Ev5) on basic concepts of the subject (weight 30%). Second assessment period. The delivery of the translation of the face-to-face evaluation tests will be made if the requirements established in article 263 are met and the request is made telematically (E-FORM) in week 4 (more information on the Faculty's website). The feedback of this evaluative activity will be made in writing, indicating the correction criteria, on the course website within five days after the activity has been carried out.
- One individual(Ev3) and one group (Ev4) 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. In these activities, a non-evaluative peer review will be carried out in the last two weeks of November through the activation of a specific task in moodle. The final assessment will be carried out at the expense of the teachingstaff and the feedback will be in January, before the assessment week.
- Participation in activities (Ev6), both in classroom and online (weight 10%). The overall assessment, with the corresponding feedback, will be done in writing, in January, before the week of evaluations.
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 casethat the subject is not passed (grade equal or higher than 5), the student will be able to take a resit test in the recuperation period 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 4.8 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 enroll for the second time or more is anticipated.
Bibliography
Main Bibliography
Feingold, K. R., Anawalt, B., Boyce, A., Chrousos, G., de Herder, W. W., Dungan, K., ... & Wilson, D. P. (2000). Endotext [Internet]. https://www.endotext.org/
Holt, E. H., Lupsa, B., Lee, G. S., Bassyouni, H., & Peery, H. E. (2021). Goodman's basic medical endocrinology. Academic Press.
Melmed, S; Auchus, R., Goldfine, A., Rosen, C.J. & Kopp, P.A. Williams textbook of endocrinology (15th Edition). Elsevier 2024 (Existe una traducción en castellano de esta edición publicada por Elsevier en 2021) https://bibcercador.uab.cat/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=4142439940006709&institutionId=6709&customerId=6705&VE=true
Litwack, G. (2022) Hormones 4th. Ed. Academic Press
Nestler, EJ; Kenny, P.J.; Russo, S.J. & Schaefer, A. (2020) Molecular Neuropharmacology. A Fundation for Clinical Neuroscience. McGraw Hill Education (Se ha publicado una traducción al castellano de la edición de 2015 en versión electrónica por McGraw Hill el mes de febrero de 2017)
Pfaff, D.W. & Joëls, M. (2017) Hormones, Brain, and Behavior (3rd Ed). Academic Press (2 Ed. 2002: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780125321044)
Raven, J. P. H., Raven, P., & Chew, S. L. (2022). The Endocrine System: Systems of the Body Series. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Robertson, R. P. (Ed.). (2022). DeGroot's Endocrinology: Basic Science and Clinical Practice. Ed. 8th. Elsevier Health Sciences
Supplementary Bibliography
Bhadada,S., Das, L., & Pal, R. (Eds.). (2023). Diagnostic Protocols in Endocrinology. Springer. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-981-19-6653-8.pdf
Belfiore, A. & LeRoith, D. (2018) Principles of Endocrinology and Hormone Action. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27318-1
Brunton, P. J., & Grattan, D. R. (Eds.). (2024). Neuroendocrine Regulation of Mammalian Pregnancy and Lactation. Springer. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-51138-7.pdf
Caldwell, H. K., & Albers, H. E. (2024). Neuroendocrinology of Behavior and Emotions. Springer 2024 https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-51112-7.pdf
Challacombe, F., Green, C., & Bream, V. (2022) Break Free from Maternal Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide for Pregnancy, Birth and the First Postnatal Year. Cambridge University Press.
Ebling, F. J., & Piggins, H. D. (Eds.). (2020). Neuroendocrine Clocks and Calendars. Springer. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-55643-3.pdf
Ergin, A.B.; Kennedy, A.L.; Gupta, M.K.; Hamrahian, A.H. (2015) The Cleveland Clinic Manual of Dynamic Endocrine Testing. Springer. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13048-4
Fink, G (2019) Stress Physiology Biochemistry and Pathology. Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780128131466
Garg, R. K., Hennessey, J. V., & Garber, J. R. (2025) Handbook of Inpatient. Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-86099-7.pdf
Grinevich, V. & Dobolyi, A. (2022) Neuroanatomy of Neuroendocrine Systems. Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology, 12. Springer International Publishing https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-86630-3
Kleine, B & Rossmanith, WG (2016) Hormones and the Endocrine System. Textbook of Endocrinology. Springer International Publishing 2016 https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-15060-4
Krauss, G. (2014) Biochemistry of Signal Transduction and Regulation. Wiley-VCH. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9783527667475
Lovejoy, D. (2005) Neuroendocrinology, an integrated approach. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/0470027878
Martínez Sanchis, S. (2007) Hormonas, estado de ánimo y función cognitiva. Delta publicaciones.
Molina, P.E. (2018) Endocrine Physiology. 5th McGraw Hill Medical.
Murphy, D. & Gainer, H. (2016) Molecular Neuroendocrinology: From Genome to Physiology. Willey Blackell http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118760369
Neave, N. (2008) Hormones and Behaviour. A psychological Approach. Cambridge University Press. 2008
Nelson, R.J. (1996) Psicoendocrinologia. Las bases hormonales de la conducta. Ed. Ariel. 1996
Nelson, R. J. & Kriegseld, L.J. (2022) An Introduction to behavioral endocrinology (6 ed.) Oxford University Press .
Nelson, Randy J., and Zachary M. Weil, eds. (2022) Biographical History of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. Springer Nature.
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 https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199935734.001.0001
Pfaff, D.W.; Kordon, C.; Chanson, P.; Christen, Y. Hormones and Social Behavior. Springer-Verlag 2008 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=229313
Russell, J.A. & Shipston, M.J. Neuroendocrinology of Stress. Willey Blackell 2016 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118921692
Spengler, D. & Binder, E. (Eds) Epigenetics and Neuroendocrinology. Clinical Focus on Psychiatry (2 vols.) Springer International Publishing 2016 Vol 1: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-24493-8 Vol 2: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-29901-3
Welling, L. L., & Shackelford, T. K. (Eds.). (2019). The Oxford handbook of evolutionary psychology and behavioral endocrinology. Oxford University Press.
Wilkinson, M., & Imran, S.Clinical Neuroendocrinology: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (2019). doi:10.1017/9781108149938
Wolkowitz, O.M. & Rothschild, A.J. (2003) Psychoneuroendocrinology. The Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. Washington.
Software
No specific Software is used for this subject.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 111 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 112 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 113 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 114 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 115 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |