Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Psychosocial Sciences Applied to Physiotherapy
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Send an e-mail to mallobet@uic.es
Introduction
Teachers who will teach the subject:
Mar Llobet: mallobet@uic.es
Bea Sanchez: bea_sanchez@uic.es
The need to include a subject of Applied Psychosocial Sciences within the content of the Degree in Physiotherapy is justified by the "element" with which physiotherapists must constantly work during their professional practice: people.
If it is intended to offer global and quality care, it is necessary to always keep in mind that the patient is not only in pain and/or an injury, but is a person with psychological needs. If you do not adequately know how the person functions, you cannot achieve patient care at a truly human level.
The subject aims not only to help to know how others are, but also to know more about oneself, a previous and fundamental step to take care of others. Therefore, the subject's main objective is for the student to acquire basic, but precise, knowledge about the personal, social and cultural aspects of the human being and to discover, in Psychology and Sociology, help strategies in the field of health and rehabilitation to apply in his/her daily practice as a physiotherapist.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites are required. The ones for the Degree.
Objectives
- Introduce in the study of Psychology.
- Get to know the patients in order to provide personalized and individualized care.
- Know the basic structure of the personality of the human being and the elements that contribute to its formation.
- Identify the evolutionary phases of the psychological development of the human being from birth to death.
- Acquire the basic knowledge that establishes the basis of human behavior at the level of sensation, perception and learning and achieve a greater understanding of the human being.
- Learn how to carry out effective communication, manage and read non-verbal communication and carry out an optimal communicative process in physical exercises.
- Develop and observe the importance of affectivity, empathy, motivation, leadership and adaptation to functional diversity.
- Psychologically manage injuries using appropriate strategies in rehabilitation.
- Analyze some social aspects that influence the behavior of patients.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CP01 - Apply different methods, procedures and physiotherapy interventions for the promotion and maintenance of health, recovery and prevention of diseases, both at the user and family level.
- CP03 - Assertively communicate, both to patients and families, the different physiotherapy proposals that are necessary for good adherence to the treatment, prioritizing the needs of the patient/user to prioritize those that most compromise the recovery process.
- CP04 - Manage physiotherapy services through efficient and sustainable use of health resources and development planning, management and control activities in the healthcare units where physiotherapy care is provided, so as to guarantee quality care in clinical practice.
- CP06 - Carry out rehabilitation programs adapted to the patient's health status, respecting the fundamental rights of equality between men and women and the promotion of human rights, as well as the values of a culture of peace and democratic values that include the promotion of an inclusive, non-discriminatory language free of stereotypes.
- HB01 - Integrate the different ethical, legal and professional aspects in the practice of physiotherapy, as well as the essential values of human dignity, acting with discretion and respect for diversity and multiculturalism, taking into account the rights of the patient/user and family members.
- HB03 - Demonstrate the ability to develop autonomous work with an entrepreneurial spirit, which establishes the basis for the development of a quality physiotherapy intervention, as well as the ability to work in an interdisciplinary health team in a responsible manner, possibly in an international context, with effective communication. and motivating, all with an attitude of learning and improvement.
- HB04 - Demonstrate the ability to communicate verbally, non-verbally, orally and/or in writing, both in the native language and in English, in clinical and research settings specific to physiotherapy.
- HB07 - Examine the patient's health status, considering the physical, psychological and social aspects and identifying the evolutionary phases of the psychological development of the human being from birth to death for the analysis of how these processes intervene within a physiotherapy intervention.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- MAT04 - 01. Identify the basic structure of the personality of the human being and the elements that contribute to its formation.
- MAT04 - 02. Distinguish between normal and abnormal psychological personality traits, especially those psychological and physical problems derived from gender violence, in order to carry out prevention, early detection, assistance, and rehabilitation of victims of this form of violence.
- MAT04 - 03. Identify the evolutionary phases of the psychological development of the human being from birth to death.
- MAT04 - 04. Analyze some social aspects that influence the behavior of the healthy and sick person.
- MAT04 - 05. Distinguish the psychological aspects of the process of getting sick and the importance of the health professional in this process, thus determining the relationship with the patient, the family and the multidisciplinary work team.
- MAT04 - 06. Compare the main groups of psychiatric pathology, differentiating their symptoms, characteristics, evolution and particular care needs.
Syllabus
Basic cognitive functions and the history: Consciousness and sleep. Attention. Sensation and perception. Learning. Memory. Language. Thinking and problem-solving. Intelligence. Affectivity. Motivation.
Developmental psychology: Physical, social, and psychological development during childhood, puberty, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Childhood disorders.
Personality psychology: Concept of personality. Structure of personality. Dynamics of personality. Classification. Personality disorders.
Psychopathology: Anxiety disorders. Mood disorders. Eating disorders. Psychotic backgrounds. Drug dependencies.
Social psychology: Comunication, social influence, altruism, morality and empathy.
Applied psychology: The professional health-patient relationship. Stress. Pain. The placebo effect. The mental health of healthcare professionals.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The methodologies used are the following:
- Master classes: It will deal with expository sessions of theoretical content with graphic-audiovisual support by the teacher. At the same time, the student's participation will be promoted through open questions that allow the consolidation of the student's knowledge. The content of the master classes will consist of the development of the topics and concepts detailed in the syllabus of the subject.
- Class activities and exercises: The fundamental objective is to work on the content of the subject through various sources of work and information and thus create spaces for the exchange of opinions based on real situations of approach that trigger elements of reflexion.
METHODOLOGY:
- Expository method / Master class
- case method
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
- Theoretical classes
- Practical activities
- Student independent study
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1st Call
Partial exam (30%). Multiple choice exam of the first part of the syllabus. Eliminates theory. Minimum grade 5. In case of failure, this section will be retaken in July.
Final exam (50%). Multiple choice exam of the second part of the syllabus. Minimum grade 5. In case of failure, this section will be retaken in July.
2 practical cases (20%). 10% each case. Cannot be retaken.
The average between all elements must be equal to or greater than 5 to pass the subject.
2nd Call
Multiple choice exam of the failed part. The practical case cannot be retaken.
Bibliography and resources
Abenza, L. (2012). Psicología y lesiones deportivas: un análisis de factores de prevención, rehabilitación e intervención psicológica. Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte, 7(19), 70.
Buceta, J.M. (1996). Psicología y lesiones deportivas: Prevención y rehabilitación. Madrid: Dyckinson. (Link a Editorial. Consultar disponibilitat a la Biblioteca).
Krueger, D. (1994). Psicología de la Rehabilitación. Barcelona: Herder.
Ortín, F. J., Garcés de los Fayos, E. J. & Olmedilla, A. (2010). Influencia de los factores psicológicos en las lesiones deportivas. Papeles del Psicólogo, 31(3), 281-288.
Ramírez, A., Alzate, R. & Lázaro, I. (2002). Efectos psicológicos de la lesión deportiva. Revista Motricidad, 9, 209-224
Weinberg, R. S., i Gould, D. (1996). Fundamentos de psicología del deporte y el ejercicio físico. Barcelona: Ariel Psicología.
Williams, J. (1991). Psicología aplicada al deporte. Madrid: Biblioteca nueva.
Evaluation period
- E1 10/06/2026 A16 10:00h
- E1 10/06/2026 A15 10:00h
- E2 02/07/2026 A16 12:00h