Conceptual model and psychocorrective measures of medico-psychological counseling of patients with problem gambling caused by alexithymia

Abstract

The article analyzes the conceptual model and psychocorrective measures of medical and psychological counseling of patients with problem gambling caused by alexithymia. It is determined that the establishment activity, psychoeducation, psychocorrective influence in the space of the integrative-eclectic approach, as well as the control and revision activities of the medical psychologist are organically included in part of the developed model of medical and psychological counseling of patients with a comorbid combination of alexithymic disorder and gaming addiction. Their high-quality and effective implementation will allow to radically change the psycho-emotional status of this category of patients from pathological to more optimal, simultaneously correcting both the urge to gamble and the manifestations of the alexithymic radical in the personality structure. Emphasis is placed on the need to take into account key points during the organization of therapeutic influence on such patients, including the comorbidity of pathological gambling with other mental dysfunctions and emotional disorders. An integrative-eclectic approach is offered, which includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodrama, transactional analysis, logotherapy and other techniques. The main goal is not only to overcome the symptoms of gaming addiction, but also to transform the patient’s personality. An important element is psychoeducation aimed at increasing patients’ awareness of their condition and methods of dealing with it. In addition, the described program of psychocorrection of gambling addictive behavior in patients with alexithymia takes into account the selected conceptual conditions for achieving a psychotherapeutic effect in this category of patients and is based on the identified most effective psychotechnologies. Its practical implementation will allow qualitative implementation of all strategic directions of therapeutic psychological influence on this category of patients. It has been proven that the implementation of the conceptual model and psychocorrective measures is of great importance for improving the quality of life of patients suffering from problem gambling caused by alexithymia, and allows to significantly increase the effectiveness of psychological care for this category of patients.