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Background: Psychological trauma may cause noticeable damage to the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) demonstrates neuroprotective properties in relation to organic brain damage caused by ischemia and craniocerebral traumas. To date, no sufficient evidence suggests that BDNF provides the viability of the nervous system in the process of overcoming the negative consequences of psychotraumatic events. Aim: To analyze the relationshipbetween the individual psychological manifestations of the "resilient phenotype" and the BDNF level in the blood serum of individuals who have psychological traumatic experience and demonstrate effective coping. Materials and methods: In 33 respondents (26 women, 7 men; mean age, 26.3 7.46 years) who had psychological traumatic experience in the previous 3 years, the BDNF level (determined by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), personality, and behavioral correlates of psychological resilience were explored (using psychological survey). Correlation and multiple regression analyses were used in the mathematical and statistical processing of empirical data. Results: The BDNF level in the blood serum of individuals with a past psychotraumatic event serves as a predictor of the level of expressiveness of resistance to stress (t=2.093, р=0.045), maladaptive states (t=2.511, р=0.018), manifestations of post-traumatic growth ("Personal Strength", t=2.911, р=0.007; "New Opportunities", t=2.242, р=0.032), and psychological well-being (t=3.106, р=0.004). Conclusion: The practical significance of the study is attributed to the formation of evidence base for clinical psychology, improvement of approaches to diagnostics, and provision of clinical and psychological assistance to those affected by psychotraumatic events.

The article summarizes empirical studies on the problem of genetic predisposition to post-traumatic stress disorder. It is showed that the development of some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder is caused by neurobiological mechanisms, the functioning of which depends on the expression of specific genes. Differences in the effectiveness of the use of certain types of psychological assistance can also be associated with the influence of genetic factors. A review of the most relevant patterns is presented. More specifically, this is the effect of the gene of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as well as the genes of serotonergic (SLC6A4, SLC6A3), dopaminergic (DRD2, COMT), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (FKBP5, ADCYAP1) systems on the manifestation of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Based on the results of genome-wide association studies, assumptions are made about the role of genes (RORA, NLGN1, TLL-1, PARK2, PODXL, SH3RF3, and ZDHHC14) in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder. The issue of the applicability of genetic testing in the practice of psychological assistance to individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder is considered. The question of the applicability of genetic testing to improve the diagnosis and development of a personalized strategy for clinical and psychological intervention is discussed.

In this article, the process of becoming the concept of "normative dissatisfaction with a body" in clinical psychology is considered. The prevalence of concerns associated with "overweight" and physical appearance overall transfers such an experience into the category of "normal", normatively accepted for a modern human. Physical appearance dissatisfaction includes the moderate experience of one's own physical unattractiveness as well as the severe concern caused by "imperfect" appearance. Normative body dissatisfaction is the risk factor for developing neurotic, anxiety, phobic, psychosomatic, and eating disorders. It also may lead to severe restrictions of subject's social activity. The review of both Russian and foreign studies on