Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2017; 1: 56–61 DOI: 10.12740/APP/67330 Research areas of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology of Saint Petersburg State University Olga Y. Shchelkova, Irina V. Grandilevskaya, Ekaterina A. Burina, Piotr K. Trabczynski Summary This article represents primary aspects of Saint Petersburg School of Clinical Psychology and briefly describes its history, as well as the main research goals pursued at the Department of Medical Psychology and Psycho- physiology at Saint Petersburg State University, Russia. The main key areas of research presented in the ar- ticle are the following: studies in the field of theory and methodology of clinical psychology, psychological re- search in clinical and preventive medicine, research in the field of pediatric and perinatal clinical psycholo- gy, research on the theory and practice of psychotherapy, research in psychophysiology, and development of methods for clinical psychodiagnostics. research / medical psychology / psychophysiology / St. Petersburg School of Clinical Psychology INTRODUCTION tinued by V.N. Myasischev, his disciples and fol- lowers, and formed the basis of the Leningrad St. Petersburg School of Clinical (previously – school of medical psychology. pathological) Psychology was formed on the The methodology of clinical and psycholog- basis of psychoneurology influenced by the ical research, developed in the 1950s to 1970s works and with personal participation of out- by domestic psychologists, representatives of standing Russian psychiatrist, neurologist and V.N. Myasischev’s Leningrad school of medi- psychologist, V.M. Bekhterev. The works of cal psychology, due to the new life conditions V.M. Bekhterev and his associates, A.F. Lazurs- was being significantly supplemented by for- kiy, M.Y. Basov and S.L. Frank, started the tradi- eign approaches. The integration processes typ- tion of a humanistic and holistic approach to the ical at the time led to the emergence of a new study of the patient’s psyche, integrating all as- psychological specialty, clinical psychology. Ac- pects of the patient’s life functioning in the face cording to modern concepts, it is a specialty of of illness and treatment. This tradition was con- a broad profile characterized by interdiscipli- nary features and one that participates in solv- ing complex psychological problems in med- Olga Y. Shchelkova1, Irina V. Grandilevskaya1, Ekaterina A. Buri- icine, public health, education, social care and 1 1 1 na , Piotr K. Trabczynski : Saint Petersburg State University, Saint other social areas. Petersburg, Russia. Correspondence address: Ekaterina A. Burina, Nab. Makarova 6, Saint-Petersburg, 199034, Russia, The first cohort of clinical psychology majors Correspondence address: [email protected] graduated in 2004, trained at the Department Research areas of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology of Saint Petersburg... 57 of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology, highlighted: biochemical, physiological and psy- the Faculty of Psychology of St. Petersburg State chological. The concept of mental adaptation in- University. The Department was established on tegrates these research areas and considers ad- the basis of the medical psychology specialisa- aptation as an integrated, multi-level (including tion at the Faculty in 1966 at the initiative of V.N. biological, psychological and social levels) and Myasischev [1]. The concept is based on the ide- self-governing functional system aimed at main- as of the founders of the psychological school at taining a stable interaction of the individual with Leningrad University. Staff of the St. Petersburg the environment [2]. Institute of Neuropsychiatry named after V.M. Bekhterev played a major role in the creation of the Department. The concept of stress and coping A personal approach to the patient in conjunc- tion with the study of the role of the neurophys- The study of mental adaptation processes iological processes in the mechanisms of psychic marked an interest shift from the study of un- conscious intrapsychic defense mechanisms to phenomena, the nature of the psychosomatic in- the study of stress coping, i.e. coping which im- teraction mechanisms of mental adaptation and plies strategies implemented for the most part compensation in the face of illness, and condi- consciously and actively in order to overcome tions that threaten the development of the dis- negative feelings and dealing with problems [3]. ease, constitute the basic research directions of Domestic studies stress the importance of total the Department of Medical Psychology and Psy- situation parameters faced by the subject. Cop- chophysiology. However, it should be noted that ing is treated as an individual way of interact- the discussion in this article does not exhaust the ing with the situation according to its own log- whole variety of problems of clinical psycholo- ic, significance in the person’s life and their psy- gy explored at the Faculty of Psychology of St. chological resources [4]. It is obvious that such Petersburg State University. an interpretation of coping with stress behavior is more appropriate for research in clinical psy- chology. Research in the field of clinical psychology: theory and methodology The concept of health-related quality of life One of the key areas of research in the field of clinical psychology is to further develop a sys- The recent intensified focus on research of tematic approach to understanding health and health-related quality of life is noticeable all over disease. A systematic approach identifies a shift the world. As a result of these studies the idea from the study of an abstract construct – disease of health-related quality of life was formed as – to a holistic study of a specific person, the per- a complex system concept. In many studies, sig- son who exists in terms of disease, “pre-disease” nificance is given to the subjective component or psychological maladjustment. The concepts of quality of life. It is largely determined by an of mental adaptation and health-related quality attitude towards health as a life value, and un- of life, as well as a systematic approach to psy- derstanding and recognition that come with the chodiagnostics, are currently being rapidly de- disease [2]. veloped. System approach in psychodiagnostics System concept of mental adaptation and maladjustment According to the modern concepts of psychol- ogy, human psyche is a system of mental func- At present, the concept of mental adaptation and tions and conditions. It is obvious therefore that maladjustment receives special attention in con- in psyche research it is necessary to use the sys- nection with the revival of interest in the theo- tem-situational approach, which was developed ry of stress, in which several research areas are in clinical psychodiagnostics in recent years [5]. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2017; 1: 56–61 58 Olga Y. Shchelkova et al. This approach contrasts with the traditional in- search for differential diagnostic criteria; pre- tegrated approach [6]. It involves the study of dicting the effectiveness of rehabilitation treat- the nature of the system (integrated) interaction ment; the study of the social environment and of individual functions, processes and mental social position of patients. states, as well as taking into account situational and contextual influences on human behavior. Areas of research in the somatic clinic Development of the main provision of theoretical The introduction of the tenets and methods of psychology clinical psychology at the medical illnesses clin- ic occurs rapidly and is associated with a grow- Looking at the fundamental research of recent ing understanding of the role that patient per- years, it is necessary to highlight work related sonality and socio-psychological factors play in to the creation of a new field of psychology – the development of disease and the treatment theoretical psychology, uniting and systematiz- process. Equally important is the study of the ing methodological principles, categories, laws changes that the disease brings to the current of psychology, as well as the stages of psycho- mental state of the patient and their social func- logical research [7]. The development of the ba- tioning. In this regard, current approaches to as- sic concepts of theoretical psychology is in its fi- sessing the results of treatment consider thera- nal stage; a new monograph on the topic is ex- peutic dynamics in three areas: somatic, psycho- pected in the near future. logical and social. Main research interests focus on the study of: changes in the mental health of patients with somatic diseases; psychological ad- Psychological research in clinical medicine aptation to the disease; patients’ quality of life (in particular, the internal picture of the disease, The term “clinical psychology” (from Greek kline – bed, hospital bed), although it has a much psychological defense mechanisms and coping, broader meaning, is often used in the tradition- quality of life); and the role of psychological fac- al, historically acquired sense: the psychology tors in the occurrence and progression of psy- of the sick person. It is also understood that its chosomatic diseases. practical value is determined by the immediate needs of clinical medicine. The subject of clini- cal psychology is presented by the features of Psychological research in preventive medicine the patient’s mental activity in their implications A significant