The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the lives of a majority of the world’s population. People have been encouraged to implement social distancing behaviors enforced by governments, and have experienced loss of employment or changes to their usual working environment. In the mental health sector, psychologists and psychiatrists have been forced to alter the standard care of patients without compromising safety. This article documents the experiences of the authors – mental health professionals in four countries, Canada, Russia, Australia and Japan – at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and offers recommendations on how clinical, training, and research practices may need to be adjusted to deal with lockdown situations. Clinicians adapted their usual best practices by learning new skills and updating their knowledge base. Mental health clinicians noticed that the pandemic led to symptomatic changes in some of their patients. Most clinicians moved towards providing telemental health services, such as conducting assessments and treatments remotely. Those who continued seeing patients in person employed personal protective equipment with various impacts on the clinician–patient relationship. The dilemmas of mass quarantines need to be carefully examined, as their effects on numerous health and psychosocial variables appear to be far-reaching.

Kornilova T. V., Chumakova M. A., Krasavtseva Yu. V. Emotional intelligence, patterns for coping with decisional conflict, and academic achievement in cross-cultural perspective (evidence from selective Russian and Azerbaijani student populations). Established in 2008, the Russian Psychological Society's Journal «Psychology in Russia: State of the Art» publishes original articles.

Narcissism may be seen as the most controversial trait of the Dark Triad, character¬ized by both negative and positive aspects. This study tested the hypotheses regarding the relationship between narcissism and intelligence, tolerance for uncertainty, and the Big Five traits. The sample included two groups of participants: 1) middle managers (N=62, Mage = 37.60, SD = 8.84); 2) undergraduate and postgraduate students (N=1187, Mage = 22.37, SD = 4.44). The Dark Triad traits were measured using the Dirty Dozen questionnaire. The following measures were used: 2 subtests for fluid intelligence from the International Cognitive Ability Resource (ICAR) and 2 subscales for verbal intelligence from the Rapid Online Assessment Deployment System (ROADS); New Questionnaire for Tolerance of Uncertainty; and the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). For students, a relationship between narcissism was established with the following variables: verbal intelligence (p<0.05); tolerance to uncertainty (p <0.05) and interpersonal intolerance (p<0.01). For managers, narcissism was also linked to tolerance to uncertainty (p<0.05). Positive correlations between narcissism, extroversion, and openness to experience and a negative relationship with emotional stability were established among students. It is concluded that the relationship between narcissism, verbal intelligence, and tolerance for uncertainty reflects the “light” side of narcissism.

The aim of this study was to analyze the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in urologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. 90 urologists aged 25 to 60 years (M=37.27, S.D.=9.53), 93% of them were men, participated in the online survey. They answered questions about their attitude to their job as doctors and the impact of COVID-19. They filled out the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and answered questions assessing their sense of control. The greatest concern among urologists is the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 (for 30% of the doctors). 43% of urologists state that their profession interesting. A positive attitude to work, as well as the Big Five traits (Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Agreeableness) are associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, stress and lack of control. Working with COVID-19 patients reduces stress and increases the sense of control. Age and high levels of Emotional Stability predicted lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Working with COVID-19 patients allows doctors to feel more control over what is happening. A sense of control, in turn, and a positive attitude towards work are associated with a lower levels of depression, anxiety and stresssymptoms. The results of this study can be used in selection of therapeutic targets for psychotherapy, administered to doctors; in prevention of symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression among doctors; and in professional selection of doctors for working in crisis situations.