An integrated model of psychotherapeutic support in the system of therapy for COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Introduction. To date, it has been already established that COVID-19 has a negative impact not only on the physical condition, but also on the mental health of the population in every country of the world. Many people have a fear of coronavirus, which is usually associated with the possible risk of infection, the lack of pathogenetic treatment, unpredictable course of the disease, as well as total uncertainty. All of the above causes negative psychological reactions. according to a scientific review published by the World Health Organization, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a quarter of a percent in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to develop an integrated model of psychotherapeutic support for patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: а comprehensive clinical-psychopathological and psychodiagnostic examination of 125 patients with COVID-19 and non-psychotic mental disorders, of both sexes, with an average age of 36.0±3.4 years, was conducted. Results. The findngs of the clinical-psychopathological study suggest that the clinical picture of non-psychotic mental disorders in the examined patients is represented by astheno-neurotic, anxious, depressive and cognitive syndromes. The psychotherapeutic program included indivi­dual and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation. An important component of the psychothe­rapeutic support program was psychoeducation aimed at developing an adequate system of ideas about the neurotoxic impact and consequences of COVID-19, understanding the main psychopathological syndromes caused by the disease, involving patients in active participation in treatment, and teaching methods of overcoming immersion in the disease. Conclusions. The analysis of the clinical findings of using the developed program showed a positive dynamic of the emotional state, a decrease in the expressiveness of anxiety-depressive symptoms, a positive transformation of coping strategies, the transition of non-constructive types of attitudes to the disease into adaptive, constructive ones, and an increase in the quality of life. Keywords: professionally important qualities, nuclear terrorism, hostages, performance of professional functions, neuropsychological stability, NPP control panel operators.