The aim: of the study is to study the features of the clinical phenomenology of depressive disorders at the present stage, taking into account gender and age factors. Materials and methods: Clinically examined 107 men and 138 women with bipolar affective disorder (current episode of depression), depressive episode and recurrent depressive disorder using HDRS, HARS, BDI, C. Spilberger’s Scale of Reactive and Personality Anxiety. Results: In all patients showed an increase in the severity of depression and anxiety with age, but in women the greatest differences were found between the middle and older age groups, and in men when comparing young and middle age groups. In young patients the level of agitated depression is higher for men, and women showed the higher overall level of anxiety, somatic anxiety, undifferentiated depression, reactive and personality anxiety. In patients aged 30-44, men have a significantly higher overall score of HARS depression, the level of adynamic, agitated and undifferentiated depression, the level of depression on BDI. In the older age group, the levels of depression in men and women are not significantly different, and the levels of mental anxiety and personality anxiety in women are significantly higher. Conclusions: The general tendency consisting in increasing the severity of depression with age, and more pronounced indicators of depression in men, and anxiety in women. In men, the greatest increase in the severity of depression occurs before the age of 44 years, and in women after 45 years.

The aim of our study was to determine features of social and emotional intelligence in family caregivers of patients with endogenous mental disorders as a basis for communicative resource formation in family where a patient lives. Materials and methods: A total of 273 family caregivers of patients with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were involved into this survey under informed consent conditions. Control group included 55 mentally healthy respondents, in whose families there is no mentally sick family member. Emotional intelligence of family caregivers was measured using the psychodiagnostic test “EQ” by N. Hall. To assess level of social intelligence the J. Gilford and M. Sullivan test (in adaptation done by Mikhailova E.S.) was used. Values of p <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The study revealed that family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders demonstrate a decrease in emotional and social intelligence indicators, which creates significant obstacles for effective interpersonal family communication and for the harmonious functioning of a family, in which a mentally sick patient lives, in general. Difficulties of emotional regulation, emotional management, recognition of emotional states of other participants of communication related to the level of emotional and social intelligence of FC are factors, that complicate interpersonal relations in families of patients and reduce possibilities for psychosocial adaptation of all family members. Conclusions: Revealed features should be taken into consideration when creating appropriate psycho-educational and psycho-corrective programs for family caregivers of patients with endogenous mental disorders.

Introduction: Previous research shows that the role of perceived social support, defined as individuals’ confidence of the availability of adequate support when needed, is considered as a protective external resource to promote better adaptation in psychiatric patients. The aim of our study was to reveal the features of patients with endogenous mental disorders regarding their ability to perceive social support. Materials and methods: A total of 168 patients with schizophrenia (F.20) and 75 patients with affective disorders (F30.F.33) were involved into this study under informed consent conditions. Control group included 55 mentally healthy respondents. Perceived social support was measured using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) by Zimet (1998). Results: Family, friends and significant others become main donors of social support for patients with endogenous mental disorders. Meanwhile, perceived social support in patients with schizophrenia is mostly coming from family. In patients with affective disorders, indicators of perceived social support from friends and significant others are significantly higher compared to patients with schizophrenia (P <0.001). Revealed features can be used while developing appropriate psychoeducational programs for patientswith endogenous mental disorders. Conclusions: On the basis of revealed data, the key features of ability to perceive social support in patients with endogenous mental disorders, depending on the duration of the disease, were determined. It has been revealed that ability to perceive social support in patients with endogenous mental disorders decreases with prolongation of duration of the disease.

Introduction: Depressive disorders are one of the most complex and pressing problems of modern psychiatry; important scientific and practical importance is the study of the pathomorphosis of depression. The aim of the study is to study the features of clinical pathomorphosis of depressive disorders, taking into account the age factor. Materials and methods: Medical documentation of 115 men and 121 women with depressive disorders who applied for psychiatric care in 1971–1995 were studied, and 81 men and 108 women with similar depressive disorders who applied for medical care in 2015–2018 were examined clinically. Results and conclusions: In modern patients, pathomorphosis is most pronounced in young patients (under 30 years of age): asthenia and pessimism were more common in them (65.9% versus 81.9%, p<0.05), suicidal thoughts (52.7% versus 68,7%, p<0.05), dyssomnias. In this age group, there was a decrease in anesthetic symptoms (34.8% versus 12.2%, p<0.01) with an increase in depressions with psychopathological symptoms, mainly in the form of obsessions (42.9% versus 59.0%, p<0,05), depressions with disturbances of biological rhythms, mainly in the form of postsomnic disorders (73.6% versus 96.4%, p<0.05), with vegetative-somatic disorders (63.7% versus 79.5%, p<0.05), asthenic (67.0% versus 81.9%, p<0.05) and agitated symptoms (26.4% versus 39.8%, p<0.05). In the middle age group (30-44 years), the share of vital forms of depression in the structure of depressive symptoms decreased (65.8% versus 44.6%, p<0.01) and depressions with senesto-algic symptomatology (6.6% against 9.6%, p<0.05). In patients of the older age group (45 years and more), the main trends in clinical pathomorphosis were a decrease in anhedonia (90.9% versus 70.7%, p<0.01) and low self-esteem (89.4%versus 65.9%, p<0.01), as well as an increase in apathetic depressions (13.6% versus 29.3%, p<0.05). The general tendency of modern pathomorphosis of depressive disorders is the reduction of vital forms of depression with an increase in depressions with asthenic, anxious and somatic symptomatology.

The aim: Study of psychological factors and consequences of psychosocial stress which is formed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: In the research, we used methods: developed a common, assessment of psychosocial stress L. Reeder scale, assessment of distress R.Kessler, assessment of the presence of manifestations of anxiety-depressive response GAD-7, depression self-assessment scale PHQ-9, method of assessing neuropsychological adaptation I. Gurvich, assessment of psychosocial support D. Ziemet, the scale of assessment of family anxiety E. Eidemiller, W. Justickis, strategies for stress-coping behavior E. Heim, methods of assessing the quality of life A.A. Pushkarev, N.G. Arinchina (2000). The current factors of the impact of coronavirus on the mental state of the population have been investigated. The study involved 823 citizens of Ukraine, who filled out the developed Google form. Results: Threats of coronavirus disease, violation of the usual life stereotype, restriction of leisure activity, harmful interest in news about the pandemic, usage of tobacco plays an important role in the mechanisms of distress formation. These conditions raise the risk of increased stress, anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The investigations carried out suggested that the quarantine restrictions could be predisposing factors for mental health impairments. Under these conditions, risks of increased stress pressure, anxiety, and depression are rising. Measures on psycho-prevention should be performed on the base of the regularities identified.