*2.6.2.2 The model of personal system of psychic adaptation*

We attributed positive dynamics of affective symptoms to the restoration of the Personal System of Psychic Adaptation (PSPA), which is the primary mechanism of positive change in cases of efficient psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. With regard to cognitive-behavioral parameters, the therapeutic dynamics were associated with developmental mechanisms of mostly supplementing and rebuilding the Personal System of Psychic Adaptation, which is the primary therapeutic mechanism in cases of efficient psychotherapy for Anxiety Disorders Due to Cerebrovascular Disorder.

In the 1980s, based on our research on outcomes from psychotherapy of anxiety and organic disorders, the author elaborated the model of Personal System of Psychological Adaptation (PSPA) [21, 49, 54, 68, 77]. PSPA is a spontaneously active homeostatic dynamic structure, which forms during ontogenesis and includes a hierarchy of adaptive mechanisms ranging from the earliest, most primitive and typical (similar to Freudian ego-defenses such as Regression, Replacement [78], etc., which are normal for early childhood) to mature, complex, individualized, and personal ones, which can be used as coping mechanisms. Hierarchical PSPA can be visualized as a spherical multilayered model (see **Figure 1**) involving the following components.

1.Concentric structure of levels of the hierarchical organization of adaptation mechanisms that form an expanding sphere around a "center" or the "Self." The highest mature level of hierarchy of multilayer level mechanisms of psychological adaptation has a capability of transforming the interactions between the underlying levels.

PSPA dynamics may express themselves in regressive, reactivating or of progressive, forming transformations.


*General Three-Component Structural-Dynamic Theory of Psychotherapy and Its… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104225*

**Figure 1.** *Personal system of psychic adaptation.*

In cases of anxious maladaptation (but not much disintegration), weakening in higher levels of PSPA adaptive mechanisms causes lower levels of adaptive mechanisms to acquire greater behavioral significance. (An example may be the development of dissociative symptoms in persons without a history of dissociative disorders in combat situations).

According to model, psychotherapeutic interventions [21, 49, 54, 68, 77] are especially suitable for cases of anxiety disorders in which there is a potential weakening of the PSPA due to regressive activation of early ontogenic adaptation mechanisms (i.e., dissociative, obsessive disorders) but also to a PSPA deficit, which is due to personality disorders or to organically based brain disorders.

Evidently, mechanisms of effective psychotherapy in cases of reversible psychogenic blocking and organically based PSPA deficit must be different. In instances of regressive dynamics of PSPA, "higher," "normal" levels of psychological adaptation are deactivated psychogenically (or underutilized), in the course of maladaptive functioning, and the goal of psychotherapy is to facilitate their proper functioning again. In the case of deficit, the higher layer level of PSPA, which controls other functions, needs to be developed for the first time and as a result of psychotherapy efficiency, an opportunity for a normal psychic adaptation be formed. So, in psychotherapy of personality and organic disorders, the therapeutic efforts are similar to spontaneous developmental processes leading to formation of the PSPA hierarchy, which means that the patients need to acquire resources allowing for better adaptation.

The results of our empirical research on hypnotherapy outcomes have revealed that dynamics of efficient hypnotherapy with complete improvement in anxiety disorders is consistent with the mechanism of reactivation, and for organic disorders with a mechanism of PSPA formation; whereas in cases of partial improvement, the psychological dynamics for anxious disorders corresponds to partial PSPA reactivation, and for organic disorders—to incomplete PSPA formation [21, 49, 54, 68, 77].

Consistent with the general resourcefulness model [79–83], our empirically based conclusion is that psychogenic blocking causes underutilization of resources. It also describes two different ways of native personal reintegration, which lead to recovery in cases of anxiety disorder. The first way of recovery, determined as PSPA reactivation, is more effective, simple, and needs fewer resources. The second way, namely PSPA formation, may be less effective and needs expanding acquisition of resources

as PSPA formation requires acquisition through learning of new adaptive skills. In both instances (PSPA reactivation and PSPA formation), in the end the dynamic processes enable individuals to utilize their resourcefulness.

Research reveals the multidimensional nature (both culturally and personally based) of a psychological ability to maintain health and to prevent pathological disorders [79–83]. The mechanism of PSPA Reactivation is close to the Resourcefulness activation of latent personal qualities, while the PSPA Formation mechanism is linked to Resourcefulness as an ability to acquire new skills.

#### **2.7 Biological component of psychotherapy**

The patient's participation in psychotherapy changes his consciousness, thinking, behavior on the basis of effective learning [69–76].

Earlier, we formulated the hypothesis that successful psychotherapy should stimulate the process of neurogenesis in patients [84], now this assumption is supported [85]. In our study, it was shown that monopsychotherapy is effective in overcoming the states of anxiety and depression in anxiety disorders [86], which needs positive neurobiological changes.

The author is engaged in research on hypnosis and hypnotherapy [66]; therefore, his analysis of the biological mechanisms of psychotherapy is limited by this method and is applicable in relation to its essential analogues.

#### *2.7.1 Biological component of hypnotherapy*

In the 1980s and 1990s, the author conducted research on the biological effect of a hypnotherapy course on the blood system, in relation to its clinical efficacy in anxiety disorders. The obtained clinical and experimental data revealed that hypnotherapy has a distinct, systemic, biological effect on the patient's organism [66]. The following was found.


The stressful, readaptive nature of hypnosis limits its therapeutic application, in that excessive intensity of hypnogenic stress may result in the maladaptation. Prolonged hypnotherapy may actually decrease and exhaust adaptable resources of an organism. Of course, the data of hypnotherapy should not be mechanically transferred to all methods of psychotherapy. But there is no reason to exclude the presence of a spectrum of biological mechanisms of psychotherapy associated with learning, neurogenesis, readaptation.
