25 years of IPA of Russia membership in the WPA

There have been explained the grounds of admission of the Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia in the World Psychiatric Association and its successful activities in spite of all various obstacles. 

The obligatory condition for securing scientific substantiation and objectivity of psychiatric expert examination¹

B.A.Protchenko, A.I.Rudiakov

It has been demonstrated that the USSR Ministry of Health through instrumentality of the Serbski Institute has totally placed under its command the forensic expert examination, having created the system of strict departmental subordination of expert psychiatrists and having appropriated the functions of justice which originated the line of politization of psychiatry. The necessity of independent psychiatric  expert examination has been substantiated.

Key words: independent psychiatric expert examination, poliltization of psychiatry

The psychic and the somatic – alleged dualism

V.D.Topolyansky

The author demonstrates that it is necessary not to regard the patient as a conglomerate of “objective” and that is why reliable symptoms. Then “subjective” manifestations should not be set off against the objective ones and biochemical and physiological research should not substitute study of the whole organism.

Key words: functional and organic, psychic and somatic 

On nature of autopersonamnesia – clinical example

A.Yu.Perekhov, P.B.Krysenko, N.I.Nikitenko (Rostov-on-Don)

In clinical example of endogenic mental disorder with two episodes of autopersonamnesia it was proved that this phenomenon was  not related to amnestic syndrome, but represented manifestation of depersonalizational or dissociative disorder.

Key words: autopersonamnesia, biographic amnesia, depersonalization

The right of Public Prosecutor to obtain data containing medical confidential information

Yu.N.Argunova

The author discussed grounds and order of giving data concerning medical confidentiality on request of prosecutor’s bodies.  It is noted that the volume of requested data must be limited by the subject of the prosecutor’s check. There were presented some cases of violations of legality on the part of prosecutor.  The legal practice as well as the position of the European Court of Human Rights concerning proxy of public prosecutor were analyzed.  

Key words: medical confidentiality, proxy of civil prosecutor’s bodies.

Support to persons with mental disabilities in exercising their legal capacity in light of the amendments to the Russian Civil Code

Dmitri Bartenev (Saint-Petersburg)

The article analyzes the impact of the amendments to the Russian Civil Code which will come into force on 2 March 2015 and will redefine the legal capacity framework by introducing partial legal capacity and supported decision-making as alternatives to the plenary guardianship. The author argues that the amendments to the Civil Code should be interpreted in light of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in accordance with the approaches established by the Russian Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Based on the human rights approach to the measures related to legal capacity the paper discusses practical recommendations regarding the application of new legislative framework.

Key words: partial legal capacity, supported decision-making, amendments to the Russian Civil Code

Thinking about the essence and social significance of conformity and conformism

B.V.Voronkov (Saint-Petersburg)

The author analyzes the signs and social consequences of conformity, explores the origins and causes of conformism, the prospects of confrontation.

Key words: conformity, conformism, social system, authoritarianism, totalitarianism.

Electroconvulsive therapy: knowledge, experience and attitudes of patients with schizophrenia.

E.B. Lyubov and the Research Group

Despite its proven efficacy and safety, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has a negative image and attracts widespread public criticism. According to a multicenter survey, knowledge and attitude concerning electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the important parameters for acceptance as a safe and effective treatment option. Patients undergoing ECT were usually poorly informed about it. This was attributable to factors such as unsatisfactory pre-treatment explanations or post-ECT memory impairment. Fear of ECT and distressing side effects were also present in a majority. Despite these problems, a vast majority of patients perceived ECT to be helpful and had positive views regarding the treatment. Much needs to be done to improve the everyday practice of ECT and to enhance patients’ satisfaction with the experience of treatment.

Keywords: ECT, attitude, awareness, knowledge, perceptions, experience, satisfaction, views, patients.

Satisfaction of medical personnel of mental hospitals with their work and its  determinants (in estimations of doctors and nurses)

T. G. Svetlichnaya, E. A. Smirnovа (Arkhangelsk)

The article presents the results of medical and sociological study of job satisfaction of health workers in mental hospitals. Base for exploring was the two regional centers of Psychiatric Care in the Vologda region. The volume of observation was 78.3% of the staff working at the time of the study doctors and nurses. Only 40.2% of health employees are satisfied with their jobs. The main factors influencing satisfaction of medical works are state social support and economic incentives.

When unsatisfactory state social support chance to be dissatisfied by the work increases by 2.2 times, while inefficient economic incentives — by 0.6 times.

Key words: job satisfaction, hygienic factors, motivating factors, health professionals, mental hospitals.

Autism of children: epidemiology (review)

V.E.Kagan (Berlin, Germany)  

The author presents the analytical review of data on prevalence of autism among children and factors of increasing its prevalence.   

Key words: autism, prevalence, epidemiology

¹ This text is the extract from the article of authors published in journal “Communist” 1989, 3. Republication from collection “Ways of renovation of psychiatry”.  Materials  of III Congress of IPA. – M., 1991, 35-41