Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition

Program Presentation

Eating behavior is an issue that creates greater interest and concern overtime, since the physical and mental health affectation of people is increasing day by day and so it presents a relevant role within it.

The brain has a set of mechanisms that motivate us to eat and drink and even induces the consumption of the type of nutrients that are needed for each moment. These mechanisms, such as emotions, cognition or motivation, can be influenced and/or altered by multiple factors. Psychopathology and psychotropic medications may affect eating behavior, either by increasing or decreasing food intake. The foods and nutrients that are ingested may also affect our emotional state and even alter the absorption of psychotropic drugs. In addition, this behavior is also directly influenced by the society in which we live: the standards of beauty highlighted in the media or even our closest environment can affect our self-esteem and, consequently, our patterns of eating.

All of these factors are important for those healthcare professionals in nutrition and psychology, for them to understand how eating behavior works and how to deal with it during consultation.

The Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition program aims to offer education in psychology and neuroscience applied to the field of nutrition to address all situations that you may find as a healthcare professional in day to day nutrition and psychology.

Who is the programme for?

The Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition program is aimed at:

  • Nutritionists who wish to specialize in the field of psychology in food and nutrition.
  • Psychologists who wish to deepen their education on eating behavior.
  • All those healthcare professionals who want to consolidate and/or expand their knowledge in the area of psychology applied to nutrition.

The Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition program is the ideal supplement for those professionals interested in broadening their education in the Psychology of Nutrition.

Diploma

The successful completion of the Program will allow the student to obtain the degree of Experto Universitario en PSICOLOGÍA Y PSICOPATOLOGÍA DE LA NUTRICIÓN, issued by the University where he or she has registered.

Program Structure

The credit structure of the Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition program is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the duration is merely indicative, as the methodology followed integrates the knowledge and skills to be acquired in each part through integrative exercises of knowledge acquisition and internalization of project practices:

  CREDITSa
Subjects 15
TOTAL 15

a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university where he/she has enrolled. One (1) ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit is equivalent to 10 + 15 hours. If the student is enrolled in a university that does not belong to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the relation between credits - hours may vary.

Duration

The program in Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition has 15 credits.

The duration of the program in Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition varies between 6 and 9 months, depending on the student's dedication. In this period of time, the student must have successfully passed all the evaluated activities and approved the Final Project, if any.

Objectives

General Objective

  • Provide the healthcare professional with the tools to optimize nutritional and psychological care for their patients.

Specific Objectives

  • Learning the fundamentals involved in neurological and psychological motivation, emotions and cognition, and how these have an impact on people’s diets.
  • Analyzing the influence of the different elements - such as the media, the environment or family, among others - that can affect our eating behavior.
  • Understanding how psychopathology and psychoactive drugs can interfere in eating behaviors and vice versa.
  • Providing the professional with the tools that facilitate detecting and and taking action before an altered eating behavior.

Career Opportunities

Some of the careers in the Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition are as follow:

  • Psychologists, nutritionists, physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals exercising their profession who wish to specialize in the field of psychology and psychopathology applied to the field of nutrition.
  • Teachers in formal and non-formal education teaching programs.
  • Advisors associated with sick people who have an altered eating behavior.

Note: practicing the profession is governed by the laws of each individual country.

Study Plan

The subjects of the Psychology and Psychopathology of Nutrition course aim to ensure that students acquire an overall idea of psychobiological and neurological foundations and eating behavior, as well as those influencing factors and existing disorders, for use by healthcare professionals to channel this knowledge into their performance as usual.

The corresponding subjects and credits of the program are shown in the following table:


Note: The contents of the academic program may be subject to slight modifications, depending on the updates or the improvements made.

Management

Academic Administration

  • Dr. Maurizio Antonio Battino.  Biochemist researcher and professor at the School of Specialization in Food Science. Professor at the Polytechnic University of Marche. Scientific Director in the European University of the Atlantic.

General Academic Coordination

  • Dr. Irma Dominguez. Doctor in Education by the Iberoamerican International University. Professor of the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. Laura Natalia Pérez. Doctor (Cum Laude) and Master's Degree in Cognitive Science and Language from the University of Barcelona, Spain. Academic Director of the Master’s Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology and teacher at the International Iberoamerican University in Mexico.

Teaching staff and Authors

  • Dr. Angélica Quintero Flórez. Doctor in Health Sciences from the University of Jaén. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Cecilia Otero.Doctor in Neuropsychology and Master in Clinical Neuropsychology from the University of Santiago de Compostela.
  • Dr. Joana Pérez. Doctor in Psychology: Individual, Group, Organization and Culture and Degree in Psychology from the University of the Basque Country.
  • Dr. Tatiana Lacruz Gascón. Doctor in Clinical and Health Psychology from the Autonomous University in Madrid. Master's degree in General Health Psychology from the Autonomous University in Madrid.
  • Dr. Paola Espinoza Guzman. Doctor in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Barcelona. Professor in Masters in Psychology, Nutrition and Medicine at the Autonomous University in Barcelona and at the University in Barcelona.
  • Dr. Priscilla Almeida. Doctor in Biomedicine, University of Zaragoza. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University
  • Dr. Angélica Quintero Flórez. Doctor in Health Sciences. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Andrea Arreguín. Doctor and Master's Degree in Nutrigenomics and Personalized Nutrition from the University of the Balearic Islands. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Mercedes Briones. International Doctorates in Child Nutrition, University of Granada. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Nohora Milena Martínez. Doctor in the Mental Health Program: Genetics and environment by the Universitat Rovira i Virigili and University of Almería.
  • Dr. Susana Martínez. Doctor in Biology from the University of León. Professor in the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. Isabel Martorell. Doctorate in Biomedicine, Rovira i Virgili University. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Claudia Nelly Orozco. Doctor of Public Health Sciences from the University of Guadalajara. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Silvia Quer. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Health. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Clicia Jatahy Peixoto. Doctor in Psychogerontology. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University and the International University in Valencia.
  • Dr. Iñaki Jordi Elío. Doctor in Health and Nutrition Projects in International Iberoamerican University. Academic Director and professor in the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. Sandra Sumalla. Doctor in Health and Nutrition Projects in International Iberoamerican University. Dean and professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences in European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. Rosa Elena Yáñez. Doctorate in Nutrition and Metabolism, Rovira i Virgili University. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Irma Domínguez. Doctor in Education by the Iberoamerican International University. Professor of the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. (c) Anna Marín. Doctoral Candidate in Education. Professor in the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. (c) Thania Chio. Doctoral Candidate in Education. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University and collaborating universities.
  • Dr. (c) Lucibel Vásquez. Doctoral candidate in Psychosocial Intervention. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Mg. Laura Martín. Master in International Health and Cooperation and Expert in Digital Health Communication and Marketing. Consultant/Auditor of Food Quality. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Mg. María Eugenia Delvaux. Master in Nutrition and International Dietetics. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.

FUNIBER Training Scholarships

The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) periodically destines financial resources of an extraordinary nature for the FUNIBER Scholarships.

To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the FUNIBER website or directly contact the Foundation’s office in your country who will inform you if you need to provide any additional information.

Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Scholarship.