About us

The Health Psychology Laboratory: Cognitive and Psychophysiological Evaluation, directed by Prof. Maria Casagrande, promotes scientific research in health psychology and well-being. The scientific and cultural bases of the research lie in the biopsychosocial model.

The scientific spirit is based on the well-established notion that defines health and well-being as a harmonious integration of emotion, cognition, interpersonal relationships, and a balanced mind-body union.

On this basis, the Laboratory is aimed to study cognitive, emotional, and psychophysiological processes from a clinical, basic, and methodological research perspective. Research subjects are healthy and clinical populations of the elderly, children, adolescents, and adults. Integrated behavioral, subjective, and physiological measures are used.

The main topics covered are the cognitive, emotional, and psychological factors that characterize:

  • Healthy elderly and elderly with mild or pathological cognitive impairment. It also includes the study of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's dementia. In this context, some behavioral forms of pathological addictions are also being studied.

  • Patients with psychiatric disorders (with particular reference to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders) and neurodevelopmental disorders (with particular reference to attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorders).

  • Patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, takotsubo syndrome, temporomandibular disorders, obesity, chronic pain.

  • Patients with psychological disorders. In particular, we are studying persistent and complicated bereavement. Concerning this topic, we are also validating a questionnaire for the screening of persistent and complicated bereavement and post-traumatic stress disorder related to bereavement). Our research also regards the study of chronic distress (about this topic, we revised Paykel's semi-structured interview for distress) and burnout, behavioral addictions (in this field, we have validated a questionnaire for the screening of binge-watching, and we are validating a questionnaire to screen behavioral addictions in the elderly).

  • The population affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (in this regard, we have validated a questionnaire for the screening of post-traumatic stress disorder related to COVID-19, and we are validating a questionnaire to evaluate the pandemic fatigue in healthcare personnel).

  • Poor quality and duration of sleep.

Research Areas
Cognitive and psychological processes in neuropsychiatric developmental pathologies. Specifically, many studies concern Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and autism spectrum disorders.
Cognitive and psychological processes in psychiatric pathologies, with particular reference to:
  •          Bipolar disorder
  •          Personality disorders
  •          Schizophrenia
  •          Anxiety disorders
  •          Depression
  •          Behavioral addictions
Cognitive and psychological processes in:
  •          Healthy aging
  •          Mild Cognitive Impairment
  •          Alzheimer's Dementia and vascular dementia
  •          Parkinson's disease
Cognitive and psychological processes in chronic pathologies, with particular reference to:
  •          Hypertension
  •          Acute myocardial infarction
  •          Takozubo syndrome
  •          Overweight
  •          Obesity
Psychophysiology of sleep and alertness.
Cognitive, psychological, and psychophysiological assessment, with particular reference to the evaluation of:
  •          Attentional systems
  •          Emotions
  •          Executive functions
Autonomous Nervous System Activity (e.g., heart rate variability, blood pressure, etc.)
Health psychology, with particular reference to the evaluation of:
  •          Alexithymia
  •          Coping strategies
  •          Adherence and compliance in the medical and psychological treatments
  •          Psychological and cognitive conditions in the complicated bereavement