Educational goals

The programme of studies includes reference to anthropology, sociology, phenomenology and psychology in order to identify an individual’s needs and their social-cultural conditioning; analyse individual health problems and their primary and secondary support networks present within healthcare and social services in response to citizens’ needs; possess and integrate theoretical healthcare concepts with the diverse interpretive models of mental illness, the historical evolution of care and psychiatric education and rehabilitation, acquire the knowledge to be able to understand biological phenomena, the principle mechanisms of organ function, mental apparatus and functions, the study of hereditarity, the physiological phenomena related to physical and mental problems and also in relation to the physiological, social and mental dimensions of mental illness and their consequences from a behavioural and psycho-social viewpoint; the study and application of basic cultural, professional and ethical principles which influence the diagnostic assessment, processing and rehabilitative treatment and education from a perspective of intervention and prevention towards both the patient and the community. The aim is to apply these principles to various situations and areas of study; identify individual needs from a multidisciplined perspective of the individual and the community with regards to education and rehabilitation; in collaboration with a team of healthcare professionals, formulate a therapeutic programme aimed at individuals with psycho-social distress and psychic disability; contribute to the training of support staff and actively participate in updating the professional profile through working in public and private healthcare and social healthcare institutions, either as an employee or freelance. Specific objectives include; identifying the physical, psychological and social needs of people of all ages, cultures and conditions in various social environments and assessing their need for assistance; assess psycho-social distress, psychic disability linked to the mental illness and the individual’s potential; analyse needs and developmental demands and identify the resources within the family and social environment; identify an individual’s need for social-rehabilitative assistance with particular attention to overriding health issues regarding the person, the family members and the environment from various perspectives such as early cognitive aging, chronic disabling illnesses, substance addiction, infectious diseases (AIDS); understand how to compile a rehabilitative therapeutic programme which addresses – identifying problems, prioritising, setting educational and rehabilitative goals, deciding on intervention on the basis of professional competence, analysing assessment systems in relation to results achieved; focusing on personal issues, interpersonal relationships, working activity and living situation; monitor, prevent and deal with critical situations regarding the clinical and psychological aggravation of the individual also by promptly alerting other healthcare professional; working towards local primary prevention in order to promote support networks to encourage successful management of situations at risk and pathologies manifested/displayed; organise mental health education initiatives aimed at individuals or groups and concerning therapeutic education for the self-management of the condition, the treatment and rehabilitation; organise rehabilitative intervention, through team work and respecting scientific principles, adapting them to the individual and the specific context, collaborate with the family and the social environment of the individual in order to successfully encourage reintegration into the community.

Career opportunities

Graduates of psychiatric rehabilitation work in the field of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals affected by psycho-social disability ( both temporary and permanent ) linked to serious and chronic mental illness. They may work as employees or freelance in public and private social healthcare institutions, as health visitors and in the field of research.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the degree course, the student must have a high school diploma, required by current legislation, or another qualification obtained abroad, recognized as suitable by the competent bodies of the University. Admission to the degree course is limited by the access planning at national level (Law 2 August 1999, n. 264). Admission takes place through a competitive test; the date and methods of carrying out this test are defined annually by the Ministry of Education, University and Research and published in a specific notice issued by the University. Students admitted to the degree course with a grade lower than a pre-established minimum threshold may be assigned specific additional training obligations; the methods for making up for any training deficits, to be filled in any case within the first year of the course, are governed by the teaching regulations of the degree course.