Algorithm for Determining the Features of a Person's Psycho-Emotional and Functional State under Stressful Conditions

Abstract

Introduction. Long-term stress from negative emotions experienced as a result of psychotraumatic events leads to a disorder of adaptation mechanisms with a deterioration in the functional state and, subsequently, to psychosomatic diseases. Currently, the task of early detection of such stress-producing states is becoming particularly relevant.

The purpose of the paper is to develop an algorithm for determining the features of a person's psycho-emotional and functional state under stressful conditions.

The tasks are to examine the contingent of scientific workers for functional and organic disorders of human body systems in relation with type of their constitution in terms of age and gender; to select the most effective methods of assessment of these states; to investigate the phenomenon of stress resistance in individuals with different constitutional types, psychotypes, features of the character, physical and psycho-emotional states; to conduct a quantitative assessment of the level of functional and physical state using the method of generalizing assessments.

Methods. To study the current psycho-emotional, physical and functional state of a person under stress, the software and hardware methodological complex “EXPRESSmedOGLYAD” [12], described in detail in the previous work, was used. This complex was supplemented by a number of methods and scales for determining psycho-emotional and psychosocial characteristics, in particular the type of temperament (G. Eysenck test); determining the current psycho-emotional state — Eysenck Mental States Assessment Scales: Frustration Scale, Anxiety Scale, Aggression Scale and Rigidity Scale, determination of stress resistance and social adaptation by Holmes and Raghe, determination of stress resistance, positive mental health scale, determination the distressing “D” personality type with the DS 14 questionnaire “Standard Assessment of Negative Affectivity, Social Inhibition and Tipe D Personality”, determination of susceptibility to PTSD, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS); as well as assessment of the individual’s character traits according to the “TOHO” program. A medical examination and expert assessment of health status were performed on a 5-point scale — expert assessment of the doctor (EAD). All obtained primary parameters were used both for independent analysis and for calculating a number of indices and health assessments, in particular biological age, aging rate, level of physical condition according to Pirogova's method (1986). To assess the general functional state, the method of generalized assessments was used [12].

Results. A total of 63 scientists of different age and gender were tested. The age and gender distribution was comparable between all groups and had the following form: 18–45 years (women — 10 people, men — 10 people); 46–65 years (women — 12 people, men — 10 people); 66–75 years (women — 11 people, men — 10 people).

It was revealed: a decrease in the level of stress resistance, which was most clearly reflected in the scales of positive mental health, HADS, Eysenck's mental states, the DS 14 scale for determining the distressing "D" type; a decrease in adaptive potential; a decrease in the general level of health, which is determined by the indicators included in the general health assessment of the "GHA". When analyzing personal and family history data, it was found that the vast majority of respondents (about 90 %) has psychosomatic diseases, in particular, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diseases of the digestive system, including gastric and duodenal ulcers, diabetes mellitus, vascular diseases of the extremities, bronchial asthma, and others. It has been shown that the basis of these diseases is hypersympathicotonia, an invariable companion of any stress. In the majority of the studied individuals, a low level of Baevsky's adaptive potential was found, which indicates unsatisfactory adaptation to stress and resource exhaustion, which invariably leads to somatic diseases of a psychogenic nature.

Conclusions. The conducted research has multifaceted importance, as it makes it possible the monitoring the functional state and identifing the dangerous for health and life conditions of employees, using simple screening tools, such as questionnaires and simple non-invasive methods and refer them to the medical institutions early and provide advice on lifestyle adjustments.