PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PEDAGOGICAL SUPPORT OF THE ELDERLY AS A FACTOR OF SUCCESSFUL AGING

Statement of the problem. Globally aging populations, with the number of elderly people growing at a faster rate than other population groups, are increasing their share of the total population in virtually all countries. Knowledge of the needs of elderly people is necessary to determine the optimal forms of work with them and the choice of those types of social services that they need especially. In senior age, the occurring personality modification is characterized by a diverse set of qualities that are rarely found in one person. Therefore, there is a need to consider the approaches of psychological and pedagogical support and those factors that affect the lifestyle of people in advanced age and successful aging. Materials and methods include the principle of a systematic approach and methodological unity of the biological and psychosocial in the formation of human mental pathology (B.G. Ananiev; B.F. Lomov; M.M. Kabanov; Yu.L. Nuller; V.M. Vorobiev; L.I. Wasserman); the principle of determinism, the principle of the unity of consciousness and activity (S.L. Rubinstein; A.N. Leontiev); the principle of system approach (V.A. Ganzen). There were also theoretical and methodological foundations of the concept by Russian psychologists G.S. Abramova, E.F. Rybalko and M.D. Aleksandrova, as well as fundamental methodological provisions on the unity of consciousness and activity, on the development of psyche in activity (L.S. Vygotsky, A.N. Leontiev, S.L. Rubinstein, etc.). Research results. Theoretical and experimental research systematized the conditions and factors that predetermine successful aging and the targets of preventive work. The presented research results make it possible to increase the effectiveness of complex measures aimed at increasing the proportion of successful aging. The studies have identified the factors that determine successful aging and the targets of prevention work. Successful aging is multifaceted and includes preventing disease and disability, maintaining high physical and cognitive functions, and constant participation in social and industrial activities. Conclusion. The presented research results will supplement the data on psychological and pedagogical support of the elderly and create prerequisites for the development of effective comprehensive measures aimed at increasing the proportion of successful aging.

Mental Disorder in Chronic Heart Failure

The aim: analysis of scientific publications on the problem of clinical structure of mental disorders in patients with a chronic heart failure, taking into account cardiological pathology. Material and method: according to the keywords “chronic heart failure”, “mental disorders”, “depression”, “anxiety”, “hypochondria”, “dissociative disorders”, “denial”, “personality”, “coping strategies”, articles were searched in databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Webofscience, eLibrary. Conclusion: mental disorders are widespread among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). They are heterogeneous psychopathological phenomena, the features of which are determined by the specifics of the clinical manifestations of symptoms and the course of the cardiological pathology. Mental disorders in patients with CHF negatively affect the quality of life, lead to an increase in readmission times and a high risk of mortality through maladaptive behavior in illness. At the same time, despite the relevance of the study of mental pathology in CHF, dissociative disorders, leading to the most severe maladaptive disorders of behavior in illness, asthenic disorders, which are one of the most subjectively painful and prognostically significant symptoms, as well as the contribution of personality characteristics to the formation of mental disorders, remain insufficiently studied.

The Psychopathological Foundations of Conspiracy Theorists

<p>The primary aim of this thesis was to understand some of the factors that make an individual more likely to ascribe to conspiracy theories. Ascription to conspiracy theories was conceptualised dimensionally along a continuum labelled Conspiracy Theory Affinity (CTA). Strong CTA reflects both a high level of belief in conspiracy theories and a tendency to create conspiracy theories (conspiracy theorising). To gauge this, I measured level of conspiracy belief, conspiracy pattern perception (conspiracy theory creation), as well as various forms of psychopathology. The findings of the psychopathology study (study 4) suggested that high conspiracy theory affinity individuals are more likely to present with high levels of paranoia, delusion, general mental pathology, as well as a high level and range of schizotypal traits. The conspiracy theory literature has also suggested that a lack of control is germane to development and maintenance of the tendency to believe in conspiracy theories (Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999; Douglas & Sutton, 2008; Groh, 1987; Hofstadter, 1965; Leman, 2007; Newheiser, Farias, & Tausch, 2011; Swami et al., 2013; Sullivan et al., 2010; Whitson & Galinsky, 2008). The literature also suggests that one compensatory strategy commonly used to re-establish a semblance of control is illusory pattern perception. Illusory pattern perception or Apophenia, is when unrelated stimuli (either visual or situational) are perceived to be connected in some meaningful way. Therefore, I also sought to establish if a direct link between illusory pattern perception and CTA actually exists. In studies 1 and 2 I experimentally induced a sense of low control using methods that have proven effective in previous research. The findings of these studies suggested that a lack of control does not necessarily reflect that a person is more likely to engage in conspiracy pattern perception. However, the findings also suggested that when a low level of control is felt by an individual who also has a magical thinking style, they are more likely to demonstrate illusory visual pattern perception. Limitations of these studies and therefore their potential influence on interpretations of the findings were also considered. Another major research aim of this thesis was to elucidate how society perceives conspiracy theorists and how those with strong CTA perceive the label of conspiracy theorist. The findings of two studies (studies 3b and 5) revealed that the majority of respondents considered conspiracy theorists to be characteristically similar to those with current mental health concerns and also convicted criminals, and dissimilar to targets with resolved mental health issues and no current mental health issues (e.g. the average man). In contrast however, those with strong CTA rated the target Conspiracy Theorist significantly more favourably than those with low CTA. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings across these 5 studies are discussed, and methodological limitations are also acknowledged.</p>

The Psychopathological Foundations of Conspiracy Theorists

<p>The primary aim of this thesis was to understand some of the factors that make an individual more likely to ascribe to conspiracy theories. Ascription to conspiracy theories was conceptualised dimensionally along a continuum labelled Conspiracy Theory Affinity (CTA). Strong CTA reflects both a high level of belief in conspiracy theories and a tendency to create conspiracy theories (conspiracy theorising). To gauge this, I measured level of conspiracy belief, conspiracy pattern perception (conspiracy theory creation), as well as various forms of psychopathology. The findings of the psychopathology study (study 4) suggested that high conspiracy theory affinity individuals are more likely to present with high levels of paranoia, delusion, general mental pathology, as well as a high level and range of schizotypal traits. The conspiracy theory literature has also suggested that a lack of control is germane to development and maintenance of the tendency to believe in conspiracy theories (Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999; Douglas & Sutton, 2008; Groh, 1987; Hofstadter, 1965; Leman, 2007; Newheiser, Farias, & Tausch, 2011; Swami et al., 2013; Sullivan et al., 2010; Whitson & Galinsky, 2008). The literature also suggests that one compensatory strategy commonly used to re-establish a semblance of control is illusory pattern perception. Illusory pattern perception or Apophenia, is when unrelated stimuli (either visual or situational) are perceived to be connected in some meaningful way. Therefore, I also sought to establish if a direct link between illusory pattern perception and CTA actually exists. In studies 1 and 2 I experimentally induced a sense of low control using methods that have proven effective in previous research. The findings of these studies suggested that a lack of control does not necessarily reflect that a person is more likely to engage in conspiracy pattern perception. However, the findings also suggested that when a low level of control is felt by an individual who also has a magical thinking style, they are more likely to demonstrate illusory visual pattern perception. Limitations of these studies and therefore their potential influence on interpretations of the findings were also considered. Another major research aim of this thesis was to elucidate how society perceives conspiracy theorists and how those with strong CTA perceive the label of conspiracy theorist. The findings of two studies (studies 3b and 5) revealed that the majority of respondents considered conspiracy theorists to be characteristically similar to those with current mental health concerns and also convicted criminals, and dissimilar to targets with resolved mental health issues and no current mental health issues (e.g. the average man). In contrast however, those with strong CTA rated the target Conspiracy Theorist significantly more favourably than those with low CTA. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings across these 5 studies are discussed, and methodological limitations are also acknowledged.</p>

‘Driven Insane by Eddyism’: Christian Science, Popular Psychopathology, and a Turn-of-the-Century Contest over Faith and Madness

ABSTRACT At the turn of the twentieth century, Christian Scientists contended with ongoing allegations that their faith was more of a mental pathology than a religion. This article analyzes how the Church of Christ, Scientist, in particular its public relations branch the Committee on Publication, systematically contended with popular portrayals of Christian Science as a source or indicator of insanity. Two highly profiled court cases, both predicated on the purported insanity of a Christian Science woman and her attendant inability to manage her business affairs, are explored for their cultural effect on the promotion of the causal association between Christian Science and madness. This study employs newspaper clippings collected and archived by the Church's Committee on Publication as well as court records to argue for the salience of the insanity charge in shaping the early history of Christian Science and its public perception. As a religious tradition premised on divine healing and health, popular psychopathological interpretations of Christian Science were particularly subversive and functioned not only to discredit and undermine the religion's claims to healing but to forward societal fears that Christian Science study posed a unique threat to women's health. This examination draws attention to a dynamic historical exchange between the press and a new religious movement, as well as the polyvalent gendered presumptions embedded in popular charges of insanity in association with religion.

Study of the focus of achievement motivation in mental pathology

The phenomenon of achievement motivation is very important in psychology, as research explains the driving forces of human behavior and activity. That is why interest in studying the achievement motivation is constantly growing. The authors of this article believe that the content structure of the achievement motivation in humans has two components – adaptive and transcendental. The purpose of this article is to present an experimental study of the meaningful characteristics of achievement motivation in persons with mental pathology. The research method is projective methodology - Hekhauzen test and author's modification of this test for persons with mental pathology, Freiburg multifactorial personality questionnaire, Diagnostics of self-actualization of personality SAMOAL. The obtained results of the study of achievement motivation in persons with mental pathology show that respondents of this category have changes in the motivational-value-semantic sphere, changes are shown in extreme manifestation of one of the tendencies (adaptation or transcendence), or extremely weak representation of both trends. Keywords: achievement, neurotic disorders, affective disorders, adaptation, transcendence, Hekhauzen test.

Pecularities of mental pathology at psychiatric patient with the comorbid somatic disorders

The paper presents the results of a comprehensive clinical and psychopathological examination of patients with schizophrenia comorbid with somatic pathology. The etiological factors and preconditions for the formation of schizophrenia combined with somatic pathology, general clinical and dynamic characteristics, and features of mental disorders, severity and specificity of clinical and psychopathological manifestations of schizophrenia are analyzed. It was found that the combination of schizophrenia with somatic diseases is more "malignant" variants of the course of psychotic disorders, including an increase in the number of hospitalizations, earlier manifestation, significant increase duration and greater severity of psychopathological symptoms. The specificity of mental disorders in patients with schizophrenia with somatic disorders was manifested by a predominance of disorders of sensation and perception in the form of senestopathy (schizophrenia with CVD and F 20 with obesity), hyperesthesia (schizophrenia with diabetes 2) and complex hallucinations. An important characteristic of mental disorders in patients with schizophrenia with somatic pathology is the presence of emotional disorders in the form of rigidity (in schizophrenia with CVD and obesity) and explosiveness (in schizophrenia with diabetes 2) emotional reactions, as well as depressive and anxiety (schizophrenia with CVD) and dysphoric (in schizophrenia with diabetes 2 and obesity) mood disorders. According to the frequency analysis of clinical-biological and social factors of formation, as well as features of clinical-psychopathological structure of schizophrenia in patients of the examined groups, diagnostic clinical-psychopathological signs (risk markers) of combination of schizophrenia with specific variants of somatic disorders are established. The obtained results show that the combination of schizophrenia with somatic disorders is reflected in the deepening and peculiarities of psychopathological symptoms, reducing the level of social realization of patients and requires the attention of clinicians in developing treatment strategies.