Relevance. Extreme conditions of military activities increase the likelihood of developing mental maladaptation and mental disorders.

Intention. To аnalyze medical statistical indicators and the dynamics of mental disorders in military personnel serving under contract, and compare the obtained indicators with data from officers of the Armed Forces (AF) of the Republic of Belarus for 18 years (2003–2020).

Methodology. We analyzed reports on the state of health of personnel and the activities of the medical service by Form 3 / MED of military units in which about 80 % of the total number of military personnel under contract of the Republic of Belarus AF served in 2003–2020. Mental morbidity was correlated with groups (blocks) of Chapter V of the International Classification of Diseases and Behavioral Disorders of the 10th revision (ICD-10). Medical and statistical indicators were calculated for 10 thousand military personnel. The results were checked for the normality of distribution. The article presents arithmetic means and errors of mean values (M ± m). Time series were analyzed and second-order polynomial trends were calculated.

Results and Discussion. Over 2003–2020, in contract military personnel with mental disorders (ICD-10 Chapter V) overall morbidity averaged (102.53 ± 15.88) per 10 thousand military personnel / year with 1.15 % share of mental disorders; primary morbidity averaged (51.58 ± 8.58) and 0.81 %, respectively; hospital admissions, (23.06 ± 4.14) and 1.76 %, respectively; work days lost, (426.0 ± 65.5) and 1.28 %, respectively; dismissals, (4.00 ± 0.69) and 22.51 %, respectively. Polynomial trends showed a decrease in morbidity indicators with high coefficients of determination. Shares of mental disorders also decreased in the structure of morbidity indicators among contract military personnel for all ICD-10 chapters. For all morbidity indicators (excluding work days lost), the levels of mental disorders in contract servicemen were statistically significantly higher than in officers of the Republic of Belarus AF. In the structure of the military epidemiological significance of diseases for contract military personnel, indicators of neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (ICD-10 Block 5) ranked 1st; mood [affective] disorders (Block 4) ranked 2nd; schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (Block 3) ranked 3rd; behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors (Block 6) ranked 4th; mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (Block 2) ranked 5th. In total, these blocks accounted for 91.5 % of the structure of military epidemiological significance.

Conclusion. When conscripting candidates who have expressed a desire to serve under contract, and at the initial stage of service, it is necessary to more actively identify persons with mental addictions. Indicators of mental disorders will help calculate forces and assets of the medical service, and their prevention, timely detection and treatment will improve the mental health of contract servicemen and the reliability of their professional activities.

Relevance. According to the concept of analytical-cathartic therapy, neurosis and other emotional disorders are based on an unconscious internal conflict in the sphere of moral relations of the individual, which is expressed in the form of an internal dialogue between the «generalized Other» (alter ego, conscience) and the «concrete Other» (imaginary significant Other). The article presents the author’s position on the role of the phenomenon of conscience and the importance of dialogue with an imaginary Other in the framework of analytical-cathartic therapy, which is extremely important for psychotherapeutic practice.

Intention. To analyze the phenomenon of conscience from the standpoint of V.N. Myasishchev’s psychology of relationships, as well as the ideas of existentialism in their significance for the theory and practice of analytical-cathartic therapy.

Methodology. The phenomenon of conscience is analyzed theoretically, from the standpoint of relationship psychology it is considered as a unity of structure and process. The author’s position of positive and negative interpretation of conscience is stated; the concepts of morality and ethics are compared within the framework of the concept of analytical-cathartic therapy.

Results and Discussion. The article analyzes the phenomenon of conscience from the standpoint of the psychology of relationships and the ideas of existentialism, compares the concepts of morality and ethics, pays special attention to the dialogue with the imaginary Other, examines the functions of the Self, the significant Other and the psychotherapist. These data significantly complement the modern understanding of the essence of the concept of analytical-cathartic therapy and they have an important applied psychotherapeutic value, which is demonstrated by the example of working with a seminar participant.

Conclusion. It is necessary to introduce theoretical knowledge and practical skills of analyzing the phenomenon of conscience within the framework of the dialogue of a person with an imaginary Other, taking into account the positions of the Self, the significant Other and the therapist. This ensures that the patient is aware of the essence of the internal conflict, understands his own role in emerging interpersonal conflicts and creates prerequisites for reconstruction of disturbed personal relationships.

Relevance. The relevance of the study is due to insufficient data on the early development of preterm infants without a history of local brain lesions and any somatic or neurological pathology.

Intention. To analyze development of neurocognitive functions of preterm infants during periods of maximum synapse formation in the primary sensory and prefrontal cortex of the brain, as well as during periods of decrease in this process in the above-mentioned areas of the cortex.

Methodology. A longitudinal study of neurocognitive development in preterm and full-term children aged 5 to 24 months was conducted. The study involved 24 preterm children and 51 fullterm children, who were examined at 5, 10, 14 and 24 months (with age adjustment for preterm children). Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (3rd edition) were used to assess 5 domains: cognitive development, receptive and expressive communication, fine and gross motor skills.

Results and Discussion. The preterm children demonstrated decreased neurocognitive functioning compared to their full-term peers during periods of decline in active synaptogenesis, while during periods of maximum synapse formation, preterm children demonstrated normal development.

Conclusion. The data obtained can be used to create early development programs for preterm children.

Relevance. Studies of patients with high levels of social adaptation show that the characterological features of this group differ significantly from the characteristics of most patients registered in drug treatment facilities. At the same time, the characterological approach in modern narcology is insufficiently developed, which makes it difficult to predict possible formation of alcohol dependence and risks of maladaptation at the early stages of the disease in the presence of certain characterological features. The influence of personality profiles on social adaptation in people with alcohol dependence has also been insufficiently studied.

The intention of the study was to identify personality profiles and resilience of patients with alcohol dependence and varying degrees of social maladaptation, as well as to assess their motivation for social desirability.

Methodology. 68 males and females aged 35 to 60 years with alcohol dependence were examined according to the criteria of ICD-10 (heading F10). Based on the analysis of socio-demographic and clinical-pathopsychological data, three groups of patients were identified: «adapted» (28 people), «maladapted» (27 people) and «borderline adaptation» (13 people). The methodological complex included: The Standardized method of personality research by L.N. Sobchik (SMIL-375), Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR) (Osin E.N., 2007), CD-RISC Resilience Scale (Connor M., Davidson J., 2003).

Results and Discussion. As a result, common and specific features of personality profiles in three groups of patients were identified, as well as their typical resilience indicators and differences in socially desirable behavior. It was found that in group of patients with risk of maladaptation, sharpening of certain personality features and emotional instability were combined with increased values of resilience. The groups of individuals with preserved and impaired adaptation demonstrated average resilience despite significant differences in personality features. Individuals with preserved social adaptation were distinguished by emotional stability and moderate increase in explosive traits and individualism. Persons with social maladaptation demonstrated exaggerated emotional instability, sharpening of explosive features and difficult interpersonal interaction; in the structure of resilience there was a decrease in meaningfulness.

Conclusion. The obtained data on the relationship of social adaptation of persons with alcohol dependence and characteristics of the personality profile should be taken into account when developing therapeutic and rehabilitation measures aimed at maintaining stable remission as well as returning patients back to social and professional life.

Relevance. A new type of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) highly likely affected the family system, since all its members faced a number of psycho-traumatic factors: negative information about the disease, situations of uncertainty, conditions of self-isolation for a long time, etc. Recent studies presented to the scientific community have noted the development of anxiety-phobic and depressive reactions, increased levels of stress-related disorders, an increase in psychiatric disorders and depletion of psychological defense mechanisms among the population observed during COVID-19. At the same time, there are virtually no works reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on the state of the family system and revealing the specifics of possible solutions to problems in the family during COVID-19.

Intention. To study the peculiarities of family relationships during the period of forced selfisolation caused by COVID-19, to reveal their socio-psychological causes, and to find ways for overcoming family conflicts in this period of time.

Methodology. The study involved 43 people aged 20 to 41 who were living together with their spouses during the period of forced self-isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Features of ideas and attitudes towards the performance of basic family functions, as well as the expectations and claims of the spouses to each other during the period of self-isolation were studied using A.N. Volkov’s method «Role Expectations and Claims in Marriage». Relationships of spouses in everyday life, their attitudes toward their partner and children, toward marital and parental roles, leisure time preferences, features of intellectual interaction, and character traits were studied using V.V. Boyko’s test «Energopsychological Compatibility with Marital Partner». The subjective assessment of marital and family relations during the COVID-19 period was performed using the author’s questionnaire «Influence of self-isolation on Relationships in Married Couples».

Results and Discussion. Despite the identified specifics of attitudes, expectations and claims, which is expressed in increased differences in the indicators of the «Role expectations and claims in marriage» methodology for men and women (which can be considered as a negative factor), the revealed changes in the state of family systems compared to similar studies of the «pre-COVID» period, as well as transformation of the structure of expectations and claims of members of the modern family, revealed the absence of significant correlations between changes in relationships in a couple during the period of self-isolation, a sense of anxiety when being with a partner in selfisolation for a long time, increased conflicts in the family in the given period. Significant correlations are determined only between the emerging tensions in relationship with a partner during the period of forced self-isolation and the intensification of conflicts in the family during this period.

Conclusion. Despite of revealed insignificant influence of social conditions during the period of COVID-19 on changes in family relationships, in case of necessity of psychological correction of conflict situations in the family, psychological counseling using methods of rational, systematic family psychotherapy as well as applied relaxation by E. Jacobson is recommended. The effectiveness of these methods has been confirmed in practice.

Relevance. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global stress factor associated with psycho-pathological symptoms in many people, including police officers performing their professional duties in this extreme situation. For timely prevention of mental disorders and rehabilitation activities, it is important to predict risks of mental traumatization.

Intention – To develop an algorithm for predicting mental traumatization risks in employees of Internal Affairs Bodies (IAB) during the high alert period (HAP) due to potential emergency associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology. Multidimensional mathematical modeling was used based on the mental traumatization factors assessed via experimental psychological examination and remote questioning. In 2020, 371 employees of the Main Directorate, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow were examined. All the examined employees were divided into three groups according to their involvement in disease.

Results and Discussion. It is shown that the mental traumatization during the COVID-19 pandemic is influenced by professional, social and psychological factors, taking into account the involvement-in-disease criterion. Using the logistic regression, an equation was constructed for predicting mental traumatization risks associated with professional activities during the pandemic in police officers. The accuracy of predictions was 91.6 %.

Conclusion. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to develop differentiated preventive and rehabilitation measures for IAB employees in HAP conditions. The method can be used during routine psycho-prevention examinations of police officers in the Mental Health Centers of the Medical and Sanitary units, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia to predict the mental traumatization.

Relevance. In the presence of a disabling disease, the patient’s activity should be aimed not only at functional recovery of the organism, but also at social recovery for better adaptation and social integration. To achieve social adaptation and integration, social functioning should be restored. However, not every patient expects active participation in everyday life, which is revealed in the process of medical and social assessment. This problem necessitates conceptual generalization within the framework of the developed theoretical and applied concept of the rehabilitation commitment of the personality in the conditions of disability.

Intention. To develop valid, reliable, specific and efficient questionnaire for assessing personality commitment to rehabilitation (QPCR) in case of disabling conditions.

Methodology. The study involved 624 patients with various disabling conditions and 32 experts (medical and social expertise physicians, specialist physicians, and psychologists). At the first stage of the study, a questionnaire including 10 questions was developed to assess the formation of personality commitment to rehabilitation. At the second stage of the study, the questionnaire was tested for its validity, reliability, specificity and efficiency. At the third stage, the questionnaire was tested on patients with major disabling pathologies.

Results and Discussion. Reliable and valid questionnaire for assessment of personality commitment to rehabilitation was tested on patients with major disabling pathologies and included an integral index and the following two scales: psychological commitment of personality to rehabilitation (five questions); and activity and participation in social functioning (five questions). Tests in the group of patients with major disabling pathologies revealed specific features of rehabilitation commitment and reduced levels of activity and participation in social functioning. The results will help organize more effective rehabilitation.

Conclusion. The questionnaire can be used for medical and social expert evaluation of personality involvement in social functioning, as well as for planning rehabilitation measures in health care and social protection to assess personality commitment to rehabilitation in the disabled.

Relevance. COVID-19 complications often manifest as respiratory disorders, mainly of restrictive and hyperventilation nature. Their pathogenesis varies, thus implying different approaches to rehabilitation, with search and justification of methods to stop external respiration dysfunction.

Intention – To justify the effectiveness of rehabilitation effects of river cruises for restoration of respiratory functions after viral pneumonia.

Methodology. 301 people permanently residing in the middle latitudes and in the North-West of Russia were examined. All the subjects suffered viral pneumonia (COVID-19) 1 month to 6 months before the study. In summertime, 143 people went on cruises along the rivers of central Russia, and 158 people stayed in their region out of special institutions. Anthropometric data were evaluated. The functions of external respiration were studied using a portable spirometer; hemodynamic parameters were determined by the Korotkov method and using computational techniques. To assess the current mental state, questionnaire surveys were used.

Results and Discussion. The obtained results indicate a statistically significant improvement in the functions of external respiration after a cruise, manifested as increase in the vital capacity by 17.2 % and in the forced vital capacity by 21.4 % in patients with restrictive manifestations and by 15.3 % and 14.7 %, respectively, in persons with predominantly hyperventilation syndrome. During the cruise, in patients with hyperventilation disorders, CO2 partial pressure consistent with hypocapnia increased by 22.5 %; the integral index of respiratory adaptation increased by 40.4 % and by 45.2 %, respectively, in the groups with restrictive and hyperventilation symptoms after the cruise. Results of the well-being scale of “Well-being, activity, mood” test increased by 47.2 %. At the same time, in those who stayed at home, changes in the indicators of the external respiration and the actual mental state were not statistically significant.

Conclusion. According to the results obtained, river cruises in the Central and the North-Western regions of Russia effectively help restore physiological respiration and circulation after viral pneumonia and can be used during convalescence to relieve post-Covid respiratory syndrome.

Relevance. The COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge to the global healthcare system. In the works of domestic and foreign authors, attention is focused on the need to provide psychological support to physicians in order to reduce the risks of professional burnout and emotional maladaptation.

Intention – to assess the mental state of the medical staff of infectious disease hospitals in the Volgograd region in dynamics, to identify targets for psycho-correction and to evaluate the effectiveness of organizational measures for psycho-prophylactics in medical organizations converted into infectious disease hospitals.

Methodology. Presented are materials from a two-stage empirical study of the mental state among 510 doctors and nurses working for 1 year during the COVID-19 pandemic in infectious disease hospitals of the Volgograd region: 279 and 231 persons at the 1st and 2nd stage, respectively. The methodological complex included “Questionnaire for identifying and assessing neurotic states” (K.K. Yakhin, D.M. Mendelevich) and “Methodology for measuring the level of mental burnout” (V.V. Boyko).

Results and Discussion. It has been established that most medical workers have no neurotic manifestations. The following manifestations significantly decreased in severity over time: obsessive-phobic manifestations (p < 0.001) and asthenia (p < 0.05) in the doctors, and obsessive-phobic disorders (p < 0.01), autonomic disorders (p < 0.01), hysterical responses (p < 0.05) in the nurses. Indicators of the mental burnout decreased among doctors in the phases of “resistance” (p < 0.01) and “stress” (p < 0.05), and among nurses - in the phases of “resistance” (p < 0.05) and “exhaustion” (p < 0.05) according to the Boyko test.

Conclusion. The results obtained indicate a positive trend in the level of mental maladaptation and burnout syndrome in medical workers of infectious disease hospitals in the Volgograd region. Both psychoprophylactic and organizational measures helped improve the mental state of physicians, thus indicating the need for comprehensive prevention of mental maladjustment among healthcare professionals.