Psychodietetics

Module I: General, developmental, and personality psychology (25 hours)

1. Introduction to Psychology – basic concepts, trends and areas of application of psychology in health sciences.
2. Human psychological development throughout the life cycle – cognitive, emotional, and social changes.
3. Personality structure and individual differences – temperament, personality traits, and their significance for human functioning.
4. Emotions and stress – mechanisms of emotion regulation and ways of coping with stress.
5. Psychological determinants of health and illness – the role of psychological factors in maintaining health.

Module II: Fundamentals of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (30 hours)

1. Nutrients – characteristics, functions, and importance in maintaining health.
2. Nutritional standards and the human body’s energy requirements.
3. Principles of rational nutrition in various population groups.
4. Methods for assessing dietary patterns – menu analysis, food diary, quantitative and qualitative methods.
5. Characteristics of diets used in human nutrition – basic, elimination, weight-loss, and specialized diets.
6. The principles of planning dietary recommendations – tailoring a diet to the patient’s needs.

Module III: Functional foods and dietary prophylaxis (25 hours)

1. Definition and significance of functional foods in disease prevention.
2. Bioactive food components and their impact on bodily functions.
3. The role of nutrition in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.
4. Dietary supplementation – indications, limitations, and potential risks.
5. Contemporary dietary trends – analysis and assessment of their impact on health.

Module IV: Clinical aspects of eating disorders and diet-related diseases (30 hours)

1. Classification and Characteristics of Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, BED).
2. Diet-related diseases – obesity, diabetes, diseases of the cardiovascular system.
3. Metabolic and hormonal disorders and diet.
4. Nutritional assessment and interpretation of test results.
5. The role of the therapeutic team in the treatment of eating disorders.

Module V: The psychology of nutrition and eating behaviors (30 hours)

1. Psychological mechanisms regulating eating behavior—hunger, satiety, and food control.
2. Emotional and compulsive eating, and the psychological factors underlying eating disorders.
3. The impact of stress, the environment, and social factors on eating behaviors.
4. Forming and changing eating habits—mechanisms of learning and reinforcing behaviors.
5. Case studies of patients with eating disorders.

Module VI: The psychology of motivation and health behavior change (25 hours)

1. Motivation theories and their application in patient care.
2. Models of health behavior change (e.g., the stages of change model).
3. Barriers to lifestyle change and mechanisms of patient resistance.
4. Techniques for supporting motivation and building readiness for change.
5. Strategies for reinforcing new healthy habits.

Module VII: Dietary counselling and communication with patients (25 hours)

1. The dietary consultation process – meeting structure, stages of working with the patient.
2. Therapeutic communication – active listening and questioning techniques.
3. Building a relationship with the patient – trust, empathy, and cooperation.
4. Praca z trudnym pacjentem – opór, brak motywacji, trudne emocje
5. Edukacja zdrowotna – przekazywanie zaleceń i wspieranie zmiany

Module VIII: Elementy psychoterapii i techniki pracy w psychodietetyce (25 hours)

1. Podstawowe nurty psychoterapii – przegląd podejść i ich znaczenie w pracy z pacjentem
2. Granice kompetencji psychodietetyka oraz zasady współpracy z psychoterapeutą
3. Wybrane techniki pracy z pacjentem – elementy podejścia poznawczo-behawioralnego, techniki uważności
4. Working with patient resources – building competence and a sense of agency
5. Case Study – applying the methods and tools acquired in practice during an internship

Final examination