On the history of the organization and development of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology, St. Petersburg State University

Abstract

The article presents the main stages of the formation and development of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology at St. Petersburg State University, which is based on the traditions of the Leningrad — Saint Petersburg School of Medical Psychology: a humanistic and holistic approach to the study of an ill person’s psyche, integrating all aspects of his/her life functioning in the conditions of the disease and treatment. The author shows the scientific and organizational contribution of Vladimir Myasishchev and Boris Ananyev in creating the specialization in medical psychology at the Faculty of Psychology of Leningrad State University; the author also represents the social demand to increase the number of professional medical psychologists, which was present in the 90’s of the 20th century and largely determined the opening of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology in 1994. The professional activities of the head of the department and its main teachers, who were present during its creation, as well as the contribution of the Bekhterev National Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Neurology scientific departments in the development of scientific and practical (psychodiagnostic and psychotherapeutic) basis of the department, are briefly described. The present stage of the department’s development is also provided; its main feature is the professional training of clinical psychologists according to the educational standard of SPSU; the contribution of the psychological counselling centre and a new type of qualification practical training — group and individual supervision — in the educational process are illustrated. The main scientific research trends of the department’s staff are presented, as well as their promising areas related to the biopsychosocial approach to understanding human health and illness, the integration of clinical and preventive directions in the development of medical psychology, and psychophysiology.