Brief psychotherapy for pathological fear of getting COVID‑19 and covid‑hypochondria in a pandemic
https://doi.org/10.25016/2782-652X-2022-0-84-05-14
Abstract
Relevance. Despite the fact that currently the number of cases and deaths from coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is decreasing worldwide, the impact of the negative consequences of the epidemic on the psyche of millions of people is difficult to overestimate. The stress experienced and possible new «waves» of infection support the relevance of providing professional assistance to persons with psychological problems caused by the pandemic.
Intention: To analyze modern strategies of brief psychotherapy for stressful conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology. The theoretical analysis of the basics of the three leading areas of brief psychotherapy and their application in dealing with the pathological fear of getting sick with coronavirus and covidhypochondria is carried out.
Results and Discussion. The article presents three models of providing brief psychological assistance in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic – brief strategic therapy, solution focused brief therapy and the method of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Interventions based on them are considered for the pathological fear of getting COVID-19 and covid-hypochondria.
Conclusion. In the case of therapy for fear of coronavirus infection, the standard protocol of the EMDR method is optimal, which implies working with negative material from the past, present and future. In the case of covid-hypochondria therapy, a strategic therapy protocol based on the «Self-examination» technique combined with significant isolation from the coronavirus-related information field demonstrates good results. In addition, in both cases, it will be useful to update psychological resources for coping with stress.
About the Author
N. A. Vlasov
Russian University of State for Social; Psychiatric Hospital No.4 named after P.B. Gannushkin
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Nikita Anatolievich Vlasov – PhD Psychol. Sci., Associate Prof. of Department of Psychology, Conflictology and Behavioral Sciences; medical psychologist
4, p. 1. W. Pika Str., Moscow, 129226
3, Poteshnaya Str., Moscow, 107076
References
1. Watzlawick P. Weakland J., Fisch R. Izmenenija: Principy formirovanija i razreshenija problem [Changes: Principles of problem formation and resolution]. Moscow. 2020. 176 p. (In Russ.)
2. Vlasov N.A. Kratkosrochnaja psihoterapija trevozhnyh rasstrojstv [Brief psychotherapy of anxiety disorders]. Moscow. 2019. 376 p. (In Russ.)
3. Vlasov N.A. Rukovodstvo po EMDR/DPDG [EMDR/DPDG Manual]. Moscow. 2020. 512 p. (In Russ.)
4. Domorackij V.A. Kratkosrochnye metody psihoterapii: prakticheskoe rukovodstvo [Brief methods of psychotherapy: a practical guide]. Moscow. 2020. 487 p. (In Russ.)
5. Prashko Ja., Mozhny P., Shlepecki M. i kollektiv. Kognitivnobihevioral’naja terapija psihicheskih rasstrojstv [Cognitive behavioral therapy of mental disorders]. Moscow. 2015. 1072 p. (In Russ.)
6. Sychev O.A., Gordeeva T.O., Vindeker O.S. [et al.]. Optimizm i strah zarazhenija kak prediktory sledovanija rekomendacijam ostavat’sja doma vo vremja pandemii COVID-19 [Optimism and Fear of Infection as Predictors of Observing Stay-atHome Recommendations During COVID-19 Pandemic]. Konsul’tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy]. 2021; 29(3):24–44. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2021290303 (In Russ.)
7. Shapiro F. Psihoterapija jemocional’nyh travm s pomoshh’ju dvizhenij glaz (EMDR) [Psychotherapy of emotional trauma using
8. eye movements (EMDR)]. St. Petersburg. 2021. 832 p. (In Russ.)
9. Bannink F. 1001 Solution-Focused Questions: Handbook for Solution-Focused Interviewing. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2010. 272 p.
10. Chen S. An online solution focused brief therapy for adolescent anxiety during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial [Electronic resource]. Trials. 2020. 21(1):402. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04355-6.
11. Connie E., Metcalf L. The Art of Solution Focused Therapy. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2009. 328 p.
12. Everstine D.S., Everstine L. Strategic Interventions for People in Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster. New York: Routledge, 2013. 340 p.
13. Fisch R., Schlanger C. Brief Therapy with Intimidating Cases: Changing the Unchangeable. San Francisco: JosseyBass, 1999. 192 p.
14. Fisch R., Ray W., Schlanger C. Focused Problem Resolution: Selected Papers of the MRI Brief Therapy Center. Phoenix: Zeig, Tucker & Theisen, 2010. 272 p.
15. Fisch R., Weakland J.H., Segal L. The Tactics of Change: Doing Therapy Briefly. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1991. 328 p.
16. Harding K.J., Skritskaya N., Doherty E. [et al]. Advances in Understanding Illness Anxiety. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2008; 10(4):311–317. DOI: 10.1007/s11920-008-0050-1.
17. Henden J. Preventing Suicide: The Solution Focused Approach. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017. 325 p.
18. Hilty D.M., Bourgeois J.A., Chang C.H. Diagnostic and Treatment Interventions for Hypochondriasis in the Neurology Setting. Current Treatment Options in Neurology. 2006; 8 (5): 401–409. DOI: 10.1007/s11940-006-0029-3
19. Knipe J. EMDR Toolbox: Theory and Treatment of Complex PTSD and Dissociation: Theory and Treatment of Complex PTSD and Dissociation. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2018. 328 p.
20. Lazarus R., Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 1984. 460 p.
21. Luber M. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Scripted Protocols: Basics and Special Situations. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2009. 480 p.
22. Luber M. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Scripted Protocols and Summary Sheets: Treating Eating Disorders, Chronic Pain and Maladaptive Self-Care Behaviors. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2018. 589 p.
23. Luber M. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy scripted protocols and summary sheets. Treating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and mood-related conditions. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2016. 439 p.
24. Mahamid F.A. Veronese G., Bdier D. Fear of coronavirus (COVID-19) and mental health outcomes in Palestine: The mediating role of social support [Electronic resource]. Current Psychology. 2021:1–10. DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02395-y.
25. Mayorga N.A., Manning K.F., Derrick J.L. [et al.]. Evaluating Experiential Avoidance in terms of COVID-19 Fear and Pandemic Emotional Distress Symptoms Among Latinx Adults [Electronic resource]. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 2022; 46 (2): 358–366. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-021-10265-x.
26. McGowan I., Fisher N., Havens J., Proudlock S. An evaluation of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy delivered remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic [Electronic resource]. BMC Psychiatry. 2021; 21(1):560. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03571-x.
27. Nardone G., Watzlawick P. Brief Strategic Therapy: Philosophy, Techniques, and Research. Oxford: Jason Aronson, 2005. 196 p.
28. Nardone G., Portelli C. Knowing through changing: The evolution of Brief strategic therapy. Carmarthen: Crown House Publishing, 2005. 203 p.
29. Nardone G., Giannotti E., Rocchi R. The Evolution of Family Patterns and Indirect Therapy with Adolescents. London: Karnac Books, 2018. 126 p.
30. Rabkin R. Strategic Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, 1977. 257 p.
31. Ratner H., George E., Iveson C. Solution Focused Brief Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques. London: Routledge, 2012. 272 p.
32. Shazer S. Keys to Solution in Brief Therapy. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1985. 210 p.
33. Weakland J.H., Ray W.A. Propagations: Thirty Years of Influence from the Mental Research Institute. New York: Routledge, 1995. 328 p.
34. Zeig J.K., Gilligan S.G. Brief Therapy: Myths, Methods, And Metaphors. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers, 1990. 512 p.
35. Zeig J.K. Changing Directives: The Strategic Therapy of Jay Haley. Phoenix: Milton H. Erickson Foundation Press, 2001. 274 p.
Review
For citations:
Vlasov N.A. Brief psychotherapy for pathological fear of getting COVID‑19 and covid‑hypochondria in a pandemic. Bulletin of psychotherapy. 2022;1(84):5-14. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25016/2782-652X-2022-0-84-05-14
Views:
157
Email this article 