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The paper examines the problem of the use of modern AVATAR therapy for auditory hallucinations (AH). There is a traditional asymmetry of the focus of interest in the study of AH with a bias towards the study of the final result of perception at the expense of comprehension of the process of AH development. The methodology of the cultural-activity approach and study of the patterns of the genesis of the “voices” in pathopsychology provide an adequate basis for understanding the nature of AH. Current intervention in psychosis is based on recognizing the role of psychological factors. АН are amplified in the state of anxiety, or in case of disturbed interpersonal relationships. AVATAR therapy provides the patient with psychological means of restoring deliberate mental activity, gaining control over one’s mental activity through its objectification, making the “voice” less malevolent and managing negative experiences. The method is based on a dialogue with an avatar, a visual digital image of the “voice”. It is designed in a virtual environment evoking a presence effect, which allows directed interaction with it in order to increase assertiveness. The experiments showed encouraging, but still debatable, results of the effectiveness of AVATAR therapy.

An analytical review of the directions for auditory hallucinations (AH) interventions in the context of the development of ideas about the phenomenon of “voices” is presented. The transformation of methodological approaches evolves from the conceptualization of hallucinations as “perceptions without an object” and “production of sick brain” to an acknowledgment of the connection with the stimulus and the significance of the subject's activity; from the concept of AH as a symptom to the analysis of perception as a mediated activity, the differentiation of AH cognitive and perceptual models. Changes in conceptualization determine the contemporary goals of the intervention. In the cultural-activity approach methods are used to improve the psychological state based on the comprehension of the systemic nature of the defect in mental activity. The limitations of comparing the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy are shown. In the development of evidence-based intervention strategies the integration of cultural-activity approach thesis and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) models is productive. Within the framework of the “third wave” CBT and therapy based on social relations the leading techniques for adapting to “voices” are presented. Conceptualization the mechanisms of AH allows to move from the goal of intervention related to adaptation in defect – to distress reduction, increase the controllability of AH, to overcoming the consequences of psychosis.

AIM. Analyze the problems and prospects of the development of modern pathopsychology in the era of a new revision of the classifications of mental disorders, overcoming the categorical approach and achieving progress in the treatment and psychotherapy of psychotic disorders. The most important role of psychological theory and psychological experiment based on it in determining the patterns of mental activity disorders is comprehended, the problem of typicity and specificity of individual symptoms of mental disorders to a particular mental disorder, the role of psychological mechanisms and conditions for the occurrence of psychopathological symptoms is considered. In the conditions of modern progress in medicine and psychotherapy, pathopsychology needs an incentive to actively rethink the rich experimental experience and further development. An obstacle on this path is the historical narrowing of the professional framework of the pathopsychologist to the level of nosological service (Bratus B.S.), overdiagnosis of individual nosological headings to the detriment of others. CONCLUSIONS. In the context of the progress made in the treatment and psychotherapy of mental disorders, and against the background of current changes in the classifications of mental disorders, the problems and trajectories of the development of modern pathopsychology are identified. The importance of methodological renovation in understanding the basic provisions and problematic niches of pathopsychology, rethinking experimental experience and implementing modern experiments in compliance with the rules of scientific research, correlation with modern scientific knowledge, as well as the importance of reflection on the professional tasks of a pathopsychologist is shown. The inclusion of psychological intervention in the active arsenal of tasks of a pathopsychologist can transform his professional activity.

The paper aims to methodologically reflect on the scientific perspectives and risk-related reductionist understanding of mental processes of the limitations of digital technologies in the study of attention biases in social anxiety disorder. Materials and methods of research include theoretical-methodological analysis, expert analysis of sources on the problem of application of digital technologies in the study of attention biases in social anxiety disorder. Methodological basis of analysis is the positions of the cultural-activity approach in comprehension of psychological aspects of application of digital technologies to research mental disorders (Tkhostov, Emelin, Soldatova, etc.), pathopsychology in studying distortions of mental activity (Zeigarnik, Kholmogorova, etc.), cognitive and cognitive-behavioral model of social anxiety disorder in the reconstruction of mechanisms of formation and maintenance of anxiety (Clark, Wells, etc.), principles of organization of contemporary studies using digital technologies, and the results of individual empirical studies on the features of attention in social anxiety disorder. Results. The use of technology in research can be close to the research aim, substituting its scientific methodological understanding at the expense of visibility and the halo of scientificity of the data obtained. Improvement of digital technologies takes their application to a new level, which includes the priority of methodology. The use of digital technology in the study of mechanisms of social anxiety has provided empirical confirmation of motivational bias to social stimuli and the phenomenon of self-focused attention. The most meaningful results in terms of verification of cognitive and cognitive-behavioral models of social anxiety were obtained using eye-tracking technology and electroencephalography. They allow explicating dynamic properties of attention when solving the task in the experiment. Application of digital technologies provides (1) detection of empirical indicators of selectivity of cognitive-perceptual activity when perceiving social objects, (2) determination of phenotypical features of socially anxious individuals. The last distinguish clinical and normative samples, provide an opportunity to verify the models which put forward biases of attention as leading mechanisms of social anxiety. The variety of empirical studies using different paradigms and methods of study does not always allow for comparisons or generalizations; inconsistencies persist in results. Scope of the results. The research results can be applied in (1) the planning of current studies using digital technology and comprehending of the results; (2) clarification of the mechanisms of disorders and selectivity of attention in social anxiety; (3) development of psychological interventions aimed to work with biases of attention in relation to social stimuli.