Тhis article is devoted to the study of the features of thinking in modern subjects in the group of practical norms. Two interrelated problems were posed: using the modified classical pathopsychological technique " Fourth Extra" to analyze the features of thinking in a modern sample of healthy men and women in a wide age range from 17 to 70 years; The second task is to analyze the same features in a narrowly aged sample of patients with schizotypic disorder of adolescence (17-28 years). The results of the research showed that, in the modern sample, the character of the actualized features has changed, on the basis of which a generalization is made. An essential example: as the study showed, at the present time the criteria "edible-inedible", "animate-inanimate" became either less frequent, or lost the same significance as in the 1960s-1970s, when classical studies were conducted by T.K. Meleshko. Now the other functional signs of objects come to the fore: motion, size, texture, etc. Comparison of the data of healthy subjects and their peers with schizotypic disorder did not reveal significant differences in the standard score (based on new normative data) in the Fourth Extra technique. Apparently, this reflects a shift, primarily in the normative sample, in connection with the new social development situation. The obtained data require consideration when conducting diagnostic clinical and psychological research.

Background: Psychiatric disorders are often linked to dysfunctions within neurotransmitter systems, and the same systems play a role in healthy temperaments. Development of a common bio-behavioural taxonomy based on functionality of neurotransmitter systems suggests examining temperament profiles in patients with various psychiatric disorders. Objective: (1) To investigate temperament profiles in two age groups of children with delusional disorders; (2) to investigate temperament profiles in adolescents with mood disorders; (3) to investigate temperament profiles in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) children. Methods: Sample: in total 171 participants (M/F = 91/80), healthy children and teenagers (volunteers); two age groups of children with psychotic disorders; teens with mood disorders (clients of the Federal Mental Health Center) and healthy IVF. Parents of participants completed a test based on the neurochemical model Functional Ensemble of Temperament (FET). Results and Conclusions: (1) Both age groups of children with psychotic disorders had significantly lower scores on the scales of physical endurance, tempo, plasticity, and self-satisfaction, in comparison to healthy controls; the psychotic group aged 5–11 had also lower scores on the impulsivity scale, whereas the psychotic group 12–17 had lower scores on the social endurance and social tempo scales and higher neuroticism. (2) Teens with mood disorders had lower scores on the self-confidence-satisfaction scale and higher scores on the impulsivity scale, in comparison to controls. (3) No difference between IVF and naturally conceived children were found. The results show the benefits of using the FET framework for structuring the correspondence between psychiatric disorders and temperament as it differentiates between social versus physical aspects of behaviour and orientational versus executive aspects.

To identify psychopathological features, patterns of formation and course of schizotypal disorder (STD) in childhood and adolescence, to develop criteria for differential diagnosis. A total of 151 patients, aged 7 to 16 years (mean age 12.3 years), with a diagnosis of schizotypal disorder were included in the study. Of these, 48 (31.8%) were women and 103 (68.2%) were men. Psychopathological, pathopsychological, psychometric and statistical methods were used. The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) was used as a formalized tool for assessing the clinical symptoms of STD. Based on the prevailing symptoms, the clinical sample of patients was divided into 3 groups. The 1st group consisted of 56 (32.5%) patients with a predominance of neurosis-like disorders, the 2nd group - 50 (37.7%) patients with a predominance of behavioral disorders, the 3rd group included 45 (29.8%) patients with the dominance of stable personality anomalies. Significant differences between the groups were found in the frequency and severity of psychopathological symptoms, the structure of deficient (negative disorders), the age of onset of disorders, the characteristics of social activity and adaptation. According to the SPQ scale, positive disorders prevailed in group 1 compared to group 3: ideas of attitude (3.3 and 2.7 points respectively), unusual sensations and perceptions (3, 1 and 1.7 points respectively). STD is a spectrum of disorders, on one end of which there are variants with a predominance of positive disorders, on the other negative ones. The predominance of certain psychopathological symptoms is due to the age of onset of psychopathological disorders, age at the time of the current exacerbation, and the duration of persistence of the disease. The predominance of neurosis-like, psychopathic-like disorders and persistent personality anomalies makes it possible to classify STD as one of the identified types, which allows us to substantiate differentiated therapy and prognosis.

The article presents the results of a study of emotion perception and expression in adolescents without clinical diagnoses and in adolescents with schizophrenia. Literature gives conflicting data on the successfulness of emotion recognition and expression in adults. In adolescents, the distinctive character of emotional development has been shown, but the amount of empirical research is not sufficient. According to the descriptions given by clinicians, there is a characteristic affective flattening in patients with schizophrenia, with no direct relation to their age. It has been shown that adolescents with some types of schizophrenia approach patients without clinical diagnoses in terms of certain intellectual parameters (N.V. Zvereva, A.I. Khromov), however there is a relative scarcity of data regarding the emotional and personal functioning of adolescents with schizophrenia. These factors determined the setup of the problem of the study that dealt with certain issues of methodology and experimental psychology. We have examined 50 adolescents, divided into two groups: a clinical one (10 adolescent boys and 10 adolescent girls with schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder, and schizoaffective disorders) and a control one (13 adolescent boys and 17 adolescent girls attending a regular general education school, 13 to 16 years). The average age of the participants in both groups – 14,5 years. The empirical research methodology included “Nonverbal Behaviour Adequate Interpretation Ability Development Level Diagnostics” (a technique devised by V.A. Labunskaya) and a modified graphical emotion representation technique (a modification of a V.A. Labunskaya’s technique). The medical records of the participants and the observation data gathered during the examinations were also analyzed. The study has gathered new data on the applicability of the method of graphical representation of emotions in adolescents. The results indicate that adolescents with schizophrenia and adolescents without clinical diagnoses have similar specific features in their visual perception of simple emotive content and similar difficulties in emotion perception occurring after the complication of the task. The study has shown the distinctive character of emotionality in adolescents with schizophrenia that manifests itself in the disharmony of emotional components: though, their impressive emotional component is relatively safe, the impairments of expressive component are quite pronounced.

To explore cognitive disorders in children and adolescents with schizophrenia from the perspective of cognitive dysontogenesis concept, assess severity and specificity of cognitive deficits and identify variants of the dynamics and types of cognitive development. Three diagnostic groups of patients were studied: 1) childhood onset schizophrenia, 2) schizotypal disorder, and 3) other types of schizophrenia. RESULTS AND СONCLUSION: There was a predomination of cognitive development types, named cognitive dysontogenesis, which structure was determined by a combination of the dynamics of cognitive development and severity of cognitive deficits. Severity and type of the dynamics of cognitive deficits were associated with the diagnosis and cognitive process.