ИСТИНА

Introduction The Clinical Psychology of Corporeality (Tkhostov, 2002; Nikolaeva, Arina, 1998, 2009) suggest viewing the body not exclusively as a ‘natural’ biological function, but also as a culturally mediated and regulated process similar to the higher mental functions in Cultural-Historical Approach Vygotsky-Lurya-Zeigarnik School. The regulation of breathing is both an autonomous and a voluntary function, that permits to research respiratory regulation through psychological mediation. Objectives To show the role of psychological mediation at the dysfunction of respiration regulation. Methods The psychological mediation was assessed through: a) the respiratory experience interviews, b) the anxiety level, c) psychosemantic techniques. The capability of voluntary respiration regulation was examined through breath holding. The study involved 20 patients with hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) and 20 healthy participants. Results The patients, on the contrary of healthy participants, have less ability to hold breath. The breath holding provokes the hyperventilation symptoms at 55% of patients. The interview about the respiratory experience revealed that the patients had more chronic disorders, panic attacks, phobias and smoking habit in comparison to the healthy volunteers. The short breath holding is correlated with a higher anxiety level, a larger vocabulary of negative breathing experience and the fixation on present unpleasant sensations, described by emotional, but not bodily words. Conclusion The negative interpretation of breathing sensation at patients, who have HVS, leads to less breathing control. Thus, psychological mediation is connected with respiration regulation and allows to identify the altered breath meaning and formulate the goals of psychotherapy.