Psychotherapy with the control of physiological parameters (gadgetcontrolled psychotherapy) in patients with anxiety disorders

Abstract

The results of a study of the effectiveness of psychotherapy methods in patients with anxiety disorders with one of the established diagnoses of category F. 41 ("other anxiety disorders») according to ICD-10. The work was based on the hypothesis that the use of not only subjective impressions of the patient, but also means of controlling physiological indicators that respond to psychotherapeutic influence, may be a more effective method of psychotherapy than psychotherapy without the ability of the patient to record the response of physiological variables to the psychotherapeutic technique that the patient uses.

The study involved 98 people with an established diagnosis of anxiety disorder. Before and after the start of therapy, the severity of anxiety was assessed in patients of both groups using the visual-analog scale, and the clinical Tsung and Hamilton scales. It was determined that in the main group, which used the control of physiological parameters when performing state regulation techniques, the effectiveness of therapy was significantly higher on all the scales used. Thus, the proposed method of objectification of the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic influence can be considered an effective approach that has prospects for application, including in the formation of digital psychotherapy technologies.