No 91 (2024)
Psychotherapy
On the Issue of Psychogenic Sensitization (in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic)
Abstract
Relevance. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the media (hereinafter) has repeatedly broadcast the narrative about the existence of the deadly danger of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the high probability of death in case of infection. Leading world leaders compared medical and preventive measures related to the treatment and non-spread of COVID-19 to war, without hesitating to use militaristic epithets and metaphors. Such information, continuously broadcasted by the media, exerted a psychogenic sensitizing effect, leading to changes in the cognitive, affective, and motivational-behavioral aspects of personal attitude systems in a significant portion of the population.
The aim is to study the influence of psychogenic sensitization on the formation of a response to the disease in COVID-19.
Methodology. The study was conducted at St. Petersburg State Budgetary Healthcare Institution “City Hospital No. 15,” Russian State Pedagogical University named after A.I. Herzen, and via the online resource docs.google.com/forms. A total of 120 individuals aged 16 to 65 were examined using clinical-psychological methods. Diagnosis of attitudes towards the disease was carried out using the TOBOL method. To clarify the socio-demographic characteristics and attitudes of respondents towards COVID-19, a questionnaire “Attitudes towards coronavirus” was developed. The analysis of empirical data was carried out using descriptive statistics methods and methods of mathematical and statistical data processing.
Results and their analysis. It has been established that psychogenic sensitization influences the formation of a response to the disease in COVID-19.
Conclusion. The results obtained canbe used for the developmentand planning of psychopreventive measures within the framework of anti-epidemic activities.
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Psychiatry and narcology
Comparative Assessment of the Prevalence of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption Among Reproductive-Age Women Before Pregnancy and During the Prenatal Period
Abstract
Relevance. Smoking and drinking alcohol by women of reproductive age is quite common both in Russia and in most countries of the world. In some cases, the consumption of these psychoactive substances continues throughout pregnancy, which can have a negative impact on the course and outcome of pregnancy and requires strengthening diagnostic and preventive measures aimed at preventing consumption and providing the woman with advisory or medical assistance.
The purpose of the study was to study the frequency and quantity of psychoactive substance use by women of reproductive age before pregnancy and during the prenatal period.
Methodology. The study involved 204 pregnant women – patients of the perinatal center of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Psychometric methods were used: express method AUDIT-C; screening test for involvement in the use of alcohol, tobacco and psychoactive substances ASSIST, method of retrospective assessment of daily volume of psychoactive substance consumption TLFB. Data analysis was carried out by studying frequency distributions and contingency tables using the χ² test.
Results. The results of a comparative assessment of the prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption in women of reproductive age before pregnancy and in the prenatal period demonstrated a high prevalence of consumption of these types of psychoactive substances both before pregnancy and in the prenatal period. Signs of abuse of nicotine-containing products were identified in the range from 13.7 % (using the TLFB method) to 16.7 % (using the ASSIST test) of the examined pregnant women. Signs of alcohol abuse were determined in the range from 18.2 % (by the ASSIST test) to 21.5 % (by the TLFB method). Correlation analysis revealed a number of statistically significant relationships (p ≤ 0.001) between the risk levels of nicotine and alcohol use before and during pregnancy among the women studied. A higher risk level of nicotine use before pregnancy was significantly associated with a higher risk level of smoking during pregnancy (r = 0.962), and the same trend was observed for risk levels of alcohol use (r = 0.815).
Conclusion. The results obtained in the study indicate the continuing need to improve measures aimed at preventing the use of nicotine-containing products and alcoholic beverages by women of reproductive age, including pregnant women and women planning pregnancy.
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Pathoharacterological Changes in Individual Psychological Characteristics in Adolescents with Acne
Abstract
Relevance. During puberty, adolescents exhibit high psychological sensitivity to evaluations of their appearance by others. The presence of acne in adolescents increases the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders and decreases quality of life. It is important to consider the crisis moments associated with adolescence, as acne can negatively impact the development of enduring personality traits. At the same time, the vicious circle of pathogenesis is closed due to hormonal reactions that exacerbate the course of acne, caused by a powerful stressor from teenagers’ feelings about their appearance.
Intention. To determine the features of permanent personality characteristics in adolescents suffering from acne.
Methodology. The analysis of permanent personality characteristics among 294 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years was carried out. Of these, 149 had acne, while 145 people were in the control group. Kettell HCPQ and Eysenck questionnaires were used to assess pathocharacterological changes in adolescents.
Results and discussion. The results of the Eysenck and Kettell questionnaires show that boys and girls with acne usually have high levels of neuroticism. In boys, this is more often combined with introversion and is characterized by shyness and self-doubt, while in girls there is a tendency to underestimate self-esteem and poor coping with negative emotions. Generally, girls also have an introverted personality type, while boys more frequently exhibit extraversion.
Conclusion. Adolescents suffering from acne, both male and female, were characterized by pessimism, secrecy, isolation, unsociability, isolation and high levels of anxiety. They are prone to low self-esteem, isolation, unbalance, vulnerability and complexes. They are characterized by emotional instability, low self-control and frustration.
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Medical psychology
The Internal Psychological Picture of the Disease in Patients in an Ophthalmological Clinic
Abstract
Relevance. The internal picture of disease (IPD) is the set of perceptions a person has about their disease; it is the result of the mental evaluation that a patient undertakes as they become aware of their condition. Correcting one’s attitude towards their disease through psychological means creates conditions for improving the patient’s condition, preventing relapses, and alleviating anxiety. Studying the IPD is a crucial task for healthcare professionals and a significant component in analyzing the patient’s disease.
Intention. The aim of the study was to clarify the IPD in patients in an ophthalmological clinic and to prevent anxiety-depressive disorders, neuroses and psychosomatic diseases.
Methodology. The assessment was conducted using the TOBOL questionnaire developed at the Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology. The study involved 300 patients with various ophthalmological conditions. It should be noted that the study was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each patient was asked to select two statements that best represented their experience from each set of statements and to circle the corresponding numbers on the registration sheet. Average scores were considered across the ophthalmological profile.
Results. The most frequent responses were those characteristic of paranoid and dysphoric (aggressive) types of attitude to the disease. Hypochondriacal and asthenic types were also frequently observed.
Conclusion. The methods of personalized individual and group psychoprophylaxis used in the study yielded positive effects in 67 patients (39.9%) of relatively young age.
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The Relationship Between Quality of Life, Attitude Towards the Disease, and Adherence to Treatment in Patients with Various Forms of Chronic Tonsillitis
Abstract
Relevance. One of the problematic issues of modern otorhinolaryngology is chronic tonsillitis. According to various authors, patients with this pathology tend to have low treatment adherence. However, this issue has not been thoroughly studied. Within the framework of the concept of patient- centeredness, patient-centric healthcare, it seems appropriate to involve a medical psychologist in working with these patients to increase adherence to treatment. Currently, no studies have jointly examined the quality of life, attitudes toward the disease, and treatment adherence in patients with different forms of chronic tonsillitis.
Intention: to investigate the relationship between quality of life, attitudes toward the disease, and treatment adherence among patients with different forms of chronic tonsillitis.
Methodology. The study involved two groups of patients with chronic tonsillitis: a compensated form (73 people) and a decompensated form (96 people).
Three questionnaires were used as experimental psychological research methods: the WHO short questionnaire for quality-of-life research, TOBOL (questionnaire for determining the type of attitude towards illness), KOP-25 (Russian universal questionnaire for quantitative assessment of adherence to treatment). The accumulation and formation of the database was carried out in Microsoft Excel 2020. Statistical data processing was carried out in AtteStat (version 13.2) – an add- on program for Microsoft Excel.
Results and discussion. Patients with the clinically more severe decompensated form of tonsillitis showed higher levels of physical and psychological well-being, social well-being, and overall quality of life compared to patients with the clinically milder compensated form. There were no differences in self-perception and microsocial support. Patients with compensated chronic tonsillitis predominantly exhibited denial of illness, while those with decompensated tonsillitis tended to cope by immersing themselves in work. Adherence to pharmacotherapy, medical follow-up, and overall treatment adherence were higher among patients with compensated chronic tonsillitis than those with the decompensated form. In patients with compensated chronic tonsillitis, the formation of an anosognosic attitude toward illness was associated with higher levels of microsocial support and social well-being. In patients with decompensated chronic tonsillitis, the formation of a harmonious attitude toward illness was linked to higher indicators across all domains of quality of life.
Conclusion. The results of the conducted study provide a basis for developing medical psychologist intervention programs for patients with chronic tonsillitis, with the interaction tailored differently depending on the form of the disease. However, each type of interaction presents its own limitations.
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Programme of Psychological Correction of Personal Characteristics of Minors with Defects of Legal Socialization
Abstract
Relevance. The relevance of this research is driven by society’s need to understand the mechanisms behind the development of legal socialization defects and the potential for their correction to reduce the number of juvenile offenders, who currently represent up to 4% of total crime in Russia. Legal socialization defects contribute to both the tendency to commit offenses and the development of victimization among minors, which is also a significant issue in the psychology of crime. The proposed psychological correction program for minors with legal socialization defects serves as an effective tool for addressing this issue. This program is a continuation of the author’s empirical research.
The purpose is to develop and test a psychological correction program aimed at changing the attitudes of juvenile offenders toward the law and promoting compliance with legal norms. The conducted research confirmed the effectiveness of the developed program, ensuring its potential for dissemination within the scientific community.
Materials and methods of research. The identification of personal and behavioral characteristics of minors was carried out using psychodiagnostic techniques: subtests “Awareness” 1 and 2, the methodology “Attitude to law” by S.P. Beznosov, the multifactorial personality questionnaire by R. Kettell (adolescent version), the methodology for diagnosing Rogers-Diamond socio–psychological adaptation, the questionnaire “Strategies for overcoming stressful situations” by S. Hobfall (in the adaptation by N.V. Vodopyanova, E.A. Starchenkova), the questionnaire “Diagnostics of value orientations of adolescents” by V.F. Sopova, L.V. Karpushina. Additionally, a psychological correction program for minors with legal socialization defects was developed and implemented to achieve the research objective.
Results. The implementation of the psychological correction program for legal socialization defects in minors provided evidence of changes in attitudes toward the law, development of emotional and volitional stability, formation of communication skills, improvement of adaptive coping strategies, and the growth of legal consciousness among participants. A significant outcome was the development of legal realism, indicating the minors’ readiness to act in accordance with legal requirements due to a critical understanding of legal norms and the recognition of the legal consequences of their behavior.
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The Relationship of Emotional State to Coping Strategies and Personality Resources in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Abstract
Relevance. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most acute and complex problems in modern gastroenterology, as it is a chronic recurrent disease with a severe course, diagnosed at a young age and requiring complex lifelong treatment. The disease has a negative impact on the quality of life and adaptation in patients with IBD, which may be significantly related to coping and personal resources, as well as the emotional state of patients.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychological adjustment mechanisms (coping strategies and personal resources) and emotional state in patients with IBD.
Materials and methods. Thirty-one patients with IBD, 24 patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (K50) and 7 with ulcerative colitis (K51), of whom 18 (57.7 %) were men and 13 (42.3 %) women, mean age 29.66 ± 8.23 years, were studied. The following psychodiagnostic methods were used in the study: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), Big Five Inventory (BFI).
Results and discussion. The analysis of the emotional-affective sphere of IBD patients revealed the most frequent subdepressive manifestations and pronounced anxiety as a personality trait, in the structure of which “anxious evaluation of the prospect” dominates. The most preferred coping strategies are “seeking social support”, “taking responsibility” and “planning a solution to the problem”. The personality profile of the patients studied has a harmonious, balanced character with a slight predominance of introversion and self-organization traits. The most saturated with correlations with the indicators of emotional-affective sphere of patients with IBD is the coping strategy “escape- avoidance”. The strategy of escape from problem solving in order to optimize the emotional state is unconstructive. Patients with IBDs are able to view difficult life situations in a positive way, thus reducing the emotional stress and discomfort caused by the disease. As expected, when examining the relationship between personality traits and the emotional domain, the dominant correlation was found to be between the decrease in emotional stability of the personality and the manifestation of anxiety.
Conclusion. The obtained data are of practical importance for medical psychologists in formulating psychotherapeutic goals for this patient group and in clarifying the understanding of the factors that enhance the effectiveness of the treatment process. This can help improve the quality of life and optimize the emotional state of patients with IBD.
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The Relationship Between Patient Perfectionism and Their Self-Perception
Abstract
Introduction. Modern society is increasingly influenced by the ideals of perfectionism, particularly concerning appearance and aesthetic standards, which has a profound impact on individual identity. In contemporary society, appearance holds significant importance, especially regarding personal and professional goals. Perfectionism, often accompanied by high levels of neuroticism and emotional instability, can lead individuals to impose unrealistic demands on their appearance and to focus intensely on its flaws. Studying patients’ self-perception of their facial appearance, particularly those seeking aesthetic medical services, and subsequently examining the impact of this aspect on doctor-patient interactions is crucial for developing objective methods for assessing facial aesthetic flaws and improving communication in medical practice.
Objective. The aim of this study is to identify the peculiarities of self-face perception in patients with high levels of perfectionism and its components.
Methods. The study utilized eye-tracking methodology with the use of the Neuroburo software- hardware complex.
Results. The study revealed that the level of perfectionism can influence the perception of one’s own face and parameters of oculomotor activity related to viewing attractive and unattractive features. Eye-tracking parameters analyzed included the average saccade amplitude, time to first fixation on subjectively attractive and unattractive features, and the number of returns to these features. Correlational analysis identified a relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and the number of fixations before the first fixation on attractive features, reflecting increased attention to flaws. Self-oriented perfectionism was negatively correlated with the duration of the first fixation on attractive features, while socially prescribed perfectionism was related to the average saccade amplitude. These findings suggest that the level of perfectionism can influence self-perception of facial appearance and eye movements.
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Assessment of Mental Adaptation Disorders for Psychological Correction Tasks in Combatants of the Special Military Operation
Abstract
Introduction. The increasing number of counterterrorism operations and local military engagements is accompanied by the development of combat stress among a significant number of participants in armed conflicts (combatants), who require medical and psychological assistance.
The intention is to identify the consistency of indicators of mental adaptation disorders in combatants using original and short screening methods for psychological correction tasks.
Methodology. 163 combat participants were examined, the average age of which was (34.3 ± 0.7) years. The average duration of participation in a special military operation was 7 [3; 12] months. The examination was conducted using original psychological tests and screening methods aimed at assessing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in particular, the military version of the Mississippi Scale for determining PTSD and the scale of primary care for post-traumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD-5). Anxiety manifestations were assessed using the Beck Anxiety and General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7), while depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Behavioral attitudes were assessed using 10 adapted sincerity questions from a standardized personality assessment method. The text presents medians with upper and lower quartiles (Me [Q1; Q3]). The consistency of the results of the original and brief screening methods was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.
Results and analysis. The average scores on the sincerity scale were 7 [6; 8] points, indicating a fairly high reliability of the assessment data. The results on the Mississippi Scale were 71 [63; 84] points, and on the PC-PTSD-5, they were 2 [1; 3] points. These can be characterized as the absence of mental adaptation disorders and a low likelihood of developing PTSD, respectively. The consistency of these indicators was moderate, positive, and statistically significant (r = 0.588; p < 0.001). The Beck Anxiety Inventory scores were 10 [4; 18] points, while the GAD-7 screening method yielded 5 [2; 6] points. These results indicated low or moderate anxiety, respectively. The consistency of these indicators was moderate, positive, and statistically significant (r = 0.598; p < 0.001). The average scores on the Beck Depression Inventory were 7 [3; 12] points, and on the PHQ-9 screening method, they were 5 [3; 8] points. These data indicated the absence or mild degree of depression, respectively. The consistency of these indicators was strong, positive, and statistically significant (r = 0.795; p < 0.001).
Conclusion. The conducted studies showed that short screening methods with a high degree of probability determine the declared psychological qualities in combatants, assessed by original tests. Their results can be trusted, and the methods are recommended for use in psychotherapy tasks.
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The Effect of the Duration of Military Service on the Psycho-Emotional Stateof Military Personnel
Abstract
Relevance. Military service is often carried out in conditions of increased danger to life. At the same time, the risk in the professional activities of military personnel should be considered simultaneously as a specific characteristic and one of the main stress factors in the performance of official tasks. The success of professional military activity, therefore, implies not only a high level of special knowledge and skills, but also requires high neuropsychiatric stability of the serviceman, bringing to the fore the psychological characteristics of the personality. The formation of professional burnout syndrome in military personnel leads both to a decrease in the effectiveness of official activities and an increase in the number of erroneous actions leading to tragic consequences, which determines the relevance and importance of studying this issue.
The purpose of the study. To determine the impact of the duration of military service on the level of professional burnout of military personnel.
Materials and methods. The study involved 60 military personnel, men aged 19-30 years, with service experience in the armed forces of the Russian Federation from 1 year to 10 years, under contract.
Using the method from “Diagnostics of the level of emotional burnout by V.V. Boyko”, MBI, the method of mental burnout by A. Rukavishnikov, the levels of psychoemotional burnout, professional motivation, psychoemotional exhaustion, tension, resistance in military personnel with various military service experience were studied.
Results. The study identified a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.01) relationship between the duration of military service and the level of professional burnout among military personnel. Signs of professional burnout in varying degrees of manifestation were revealed in both research groups (with service experience of up to and more than 5 years). At the same time, in military personnel with more than 5 years of experience, the following were statistically significantly (р ≤ 0.01) more pronounced: tension, resistance, exhaustion, emotional exhaustion. dditionally, significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in indicators of psychoemotional exhaustion and emotional burnout were noted. Strong and significant correlations were found between emotional exhaustion and personal detachment, as well as between psychoemotional exhaustion and decreased professional motivation in both groups. Conclusion. Based on the structure of negative changes, target points for psychocorrective effects have been identified – recognition of professional achievements, training in the practice of relieving emotional stress and increasing personal involvement. A program of psychocorrective effects has been developed aimed at the psychological correction of the identified negative psychological conditions, consisting of socio-psychological training, socio-psychological training and training in applied relaxation using the Lars-Goran Öst method.
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Discussion club
The Relationship between Aggressive Behavior and Legitimization of Aggression (Socio-Cultural and Gender Aspects)
Abstract
Relevance. The transformation of societal norms and values has led to the development of sanctioned and encouraged forms of aggressive behavior. Results from a few studies have shown that as the range of legitimate violence in society expands, there is an observed increase in aggressive behaviors that impact both the psychological and physical well-being of individuals.
The aim is to determine the relationship between legitimization of aggression and aggressive behavior, taking into account the sociocultural and gender aspects.
Methodology. The analysis of the results of the survey of 65 people (61 % women, 39 % men), representatives of the nationalities of South Ossetia and people of Russian (google-forms service) was carried out. The study used a questionnaire on the level of aggressiveness of Buss-Durkey (standardized by A.A. Khvan, Yu.A. Zaitsev and Yu.A. Kuznetsova); a questionnaire on the Index of legitimate aggression “LA-44” (S.N. Enikolopov, N.P. Cibulsky); a methodology for determining integral forms of communicative aggressiveness (V.V. Boyko), the results of the questionnaire on social-demographic characteristics.
The results and their analysis. It was revealed that individuals exhibiting high levels of physical aggression also showed a high degree of legitimization of aggression, expressed in the approval of aggressive disciplinary measures and the use of force in political contexts. Analysis of significant differences in the level of legitimation of aggression between representatives of Caucasian and Russian nationalities and showed that persons of Caucasian nationality are more likely to show legitimation of aggression in the fields of sports, education and personal activities than persons of Russian nationality. The study of the gender aspect revealed that the legitimization of aggression is manifested itself in the behavior among males to a greater extent than among females.
Conclusion. Differences in the expression of aggression were found to depend on both gender and cultural affiliation. Furthermore, a relationship was identified between the legitimization of aggression and physical components of aggressive behavior, including aggressiveness, provocation of aggression, the tendency to retaliate, enjoyment of aggression, spontaneity of aggressive behavior, and psychosomatic manifestations related to aggressive behavior.
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