Orlov O. Psychological correction of development of adolescents with intellectual disability and a high level of neurotization

Thesis describe a wide range of approaches to the interpretation of the concept of "neurotic personality", its structure and causal factors. In contrast to neuroticism, we treat neurotization as a complex of personality traits, a maladaptive psychological predisposition to so-called ‘neurotic disorders’. High level of neurotization is characterized by dysfunctional beliefs, cognitive patterns, coping strategies, and is manifested in disorders og external (behavior) and internal (emotions and cognition) aspects of personality functioning, as well as possible psychosomatic reactions. Neurotization is seen as continual phenomenon, which is caused by a complex interplay of a number of adverse factors: peculiarities of mental processes, specifics of the early stages of development, existing conflicts between the needs and the requirements of the environment etc. Our empirical study revealed that an adolescent with intellectual disability and a high level of neurotization is characterized by a high level of asthenia, negative self-esteem, difficulties with self-regulation, and low stress tolerance. He or she feels isolated from the environment, and at the same time — dependent and helpless. Such adolescents are inclined to catastrophic interpretations of the reality. They are hostile and cautious about other people, but have a low ability to take active action. Although in some cases they tend to behave aggressively. We developed an integrated model of psychological intervention which includes the principles (unity of activity and the psyche, ‘child-centrism’, the interconnectedness of thinking, emotional reactions and behavior), forms (individual, group, work with teachers and caregivers), methods (cognitive, behavioral, emotionally focused) and goals (the formation of realistic positive self-esteem and perceptions of the surrounding world, formation of emotional and communicative competence and development of self-regulation and critical thinking). An intervention program is described and empirically tested.