Basic beliefs in anxiety-depressive symptomatology: a neurocognitive model within the framework of functional systems theory

Background. The rising prevalence of anxiety-depressive states underscores the urgent need for therapeutic approaches targeting the core mechanisms of maladaptation. Maladaptive cognitive-affective schemas, with dysfunctional basic beliefs at their core distorting perceptions of self, the world, and the future, play a pivotal role in their pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive understanding of their systemic neurobiological organization remains lacking. Aim. This study aims to theoretically substantiate an integrative neurocognitive model of basic beliefs, elucidating the mechanisms of their stability and maladaptive transformation in anxiety-depressive symptomatology, and to identify principles for developing personalized interventions based on this model. Method. A theoretical analysis and synthesis of contemporary neurocognitive and physiological data were conducted. Dysfunctional basic beliefs were examined as components of holistic maladaptive functional systems, and the neurobiological correlates of their stability were described. Results. Within the proposed model, the stability of dysfunctional basic beliefs is linked to specific neurobiological activity (amygdala hyperactivation, decreased prefrontal cortex activity, hippocampal dysfunction) and impaired neuroplasticity. The necessity of an integrative therapeutic approach synergistically affecting all system levels through a combination of “top-down” (cognitivbehavioral) and “bottom-up” (somatic and emotional regulation) methods is substantiated. Conclusions. The functional systems theory provides a foundational framework for developing therapeutic interventions aimed at systemic reorganization ("systemogenesis") through neuroplasticity mechanisms.

1. Starunskaya D.A., Vasileva A.V., Karavaeva T.A., Lyashkovskaya S.V., Andrianova A.E. Possibilities of personalized selection of psychotherapy for comorbid depressive and stressful disorders, targets of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and person-centered (reconstructive) psychotherapy (PCP). Psikhiatriya (Psychiatry). 2025;23(3):111–122. (in Russian). doi: 10.30629/2618-6667-2025-23-3-111-122

2. Krylatova E.V., Seliverstova N.A. Peculiarities of the mental state of individuals experiencing prolonged stressful situations. Vestnik psihoterapii (Bulletin of Psychotherapy). 2025; (96): 104–110. (in Russian). doi: 10.25016/2782-652X-2025-0-96-104-110

3. Karavaeva T.A., Vasileva A.V., Radionov D.S., Starunskaya D.A., Andrianova A.E. Clinical and etiopathogenetic aspects of depressive and anxiety disorders’ comorbidity: towards the problem of achieving stable remission. Obozrenie psihiatrii i medicinskoj psihologii im. V.M. Bekhtereva (V.M. Bekhterev review of psychiatry and medical psychology). 2024;58(4/1):23-33. (in Russian). doi: 10.31363/2313-7053-2024-975

4. Markina O.S. The role of basic beliefs for psychological well-being in conditions of societal transitivity. Vestnik Gosudarstvennogo universiteta prosveshcheniya. Seriya: Psikhologicheskie nauki (Bulletin of the State University of Education. Series: Psychological Sciences). 2023;(2):61-73. (in Russian). doi:10.18384/2310-7235-2023-2-61-73

5. Bek D. Kognitivno-povedencheskaya terapiya: Ot osnov k napravleniyam. Saint-Petersburg, Piter, 2024. (in Russian)

6. Beck A.T., Haigh E.A.P. Advances in Cognitive Theory and Therapy: The Generic Cognitive Model. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 2014; 10(1):1-24. doi:10.1146/annurevclinpsy-032813-153734

7. Uotkins E. Sfokusirovannaya na ruminacii kognitivno-povedencheskaya terapiya depressii. Saint-Petersburg, Piter, 2023. (in Russian).

8. Beck A.T. Cognitive therapy and emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press, 1976.

9. Janoff-Bulman R. Shattered assumptions: toward a new psychology of trauma. 1st ed. New York: Free Press, 1992.

10. Clark D.A., Beck A.T. Cognitive theory and therapy of anxiety and depression: Convergence with neurobiological findings. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2010; 14(9):418–424. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2010.06.007

11. Padun M.A. Complex PTSD: Psychotherapy of the consequences of prolonged traumatization. Konsultativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya (Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy). 2021;29(3):69-87. (in Russian). doi:10.17759/cpp.2021290306

12. Padun M.A., Kotel'nikova A.V. Psihicheskaya travma i kartina mira: Teoriya, empiriya, praktika. Moscow, Izd-vo «Institut psihologii RAN», 2012. (in Russian).

13. Zhedunova L.G. Psihologiya lichnostnogo krizisa: Avtoref. diss. kand. psihol. nauk. YaGPU im. K.D. Ushinskogo, Yaroslavl', 2010. 5-7 р. (in Russian).

14. Merkuryev D.V. The phenomenon of basic beliefs: A review of research. Vestnik Chelyabinskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Obrazovanie i zdravookhranenie (Bulletin of Chelyabinsk State University). 2022;(1):71-78. (in Russian). doi:10.24411/2409-4102-2022-10111

15. Sekackaya E.O. Bazisnye ubezhdeniya i adaptaciya lichnosti. Moscow,IP RAN, 2020. (in Russian).

16. Vartanyan M.E. Neurosciences. Their place in modern medicine. Psikhiatriya (Psychiatry). 2024;22(5):8-11. (in Russian). doi: 10.30629/2618-6667-2024-22-5-8-11

17. Rozanov V.A. Stress and mental health: Neurobiological aspects. Sotsialnaya i klinicheskaya psikhiatriya (Social and Clinical Psychiatry). 2013;23(1):79-86. (in Russian).

18. Levy I., Schiller D. Neural computations of threat. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2021; 25(2): 151–171. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.11.007

19. Yarkoni T., Poldrack R.A., Van Essen D.C., Wager T.D. Cognitive neuroscience 2.0: building a cumulative science of human brain function. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2010; 14(11):489–496. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2010.08.004

20. Pavlov K.I., Mukhin V.N. Physiological mechanisms of neuroplasticity as the basis of mental processes and socio-professional adaptation (Part 1). Psikhologiya. Psikhofiziologiya (Psychology. Psychophysiology). 2021;14(3):119-136. (in Russian). doi:10.14529/jpps210312

21. Kirenskaya A.V., Fedorova E.V., Telesheva K.Y., Gonopolsky A.M., Chernorizov A.M. Performance of cognitive tasks, psychological traits, and functional brain activity in anxiety disorders. Obozrenie psihiatrii i medicinskoj psihologii im. V.M. Bekhtereva (V.M. Bekhterev review of psychiatry and medical рsychology). 2024; 58(2):55-66. (in Russian). doi: 10.31363/2313-7053-2024-2-870

22. Anokhin P.K. Filosofskie aspekty teorii funktsionalnoy sistemy. Moscow, Nauka, 1978. (in Russian).

23. Bek A.T., Rash A.Dzh., Sho B.F., Emeri G. Kognitivnaya terapiya depressii. Saint-Petersburg, Piter, 2018. (in Russian).

24. Bek A., Frimen A. Kognitivnaya psihoterapiya rasstrojstv lichnosti. Saint-Petersburg, Piter, 2019. (in Russian).

25. Falikman M.V. The principle of predictive coding and the problem of activity in modern cognitive science (Cognitive Neuroscience: Proceedings of the international forum), Ekaterinburg, 2021, P. 3–7. (in Russian).

26. Lennox J.B. Robert Rosen and Relational System Theory: An Overview. Cham: Springer, 2024.

27. Zalesskij G.E. Psihologiya mirovozzreniya i ubezhdenij lichnosti. Moscow, Izdatel'stvo MGU, 1994. (in Russian).

28. Chernov A.Yu., Zinovyeva D.M., Vodopyanova N.E., Fomina O.O. Structure and types of cognitive schemas of psychological well-being. Izvestiya Saratovskogo universiteta. Novaya seriya. Seriya: Akmeologiya obrazovaniya. Psikhologiya razvitiya (Bulletin of Saratov University. New Series. Series: Acmeology of Education. Developmental Psychology). 2020;9(1):33-43. (in Russian). doi:10.18500/2304-9790-2020-9-1-33-43

29. Bezdenezhnyh B.N. Psihofiziologicheskie zakonomernosti vzaimodejstviya funkcional'nyh sistem pri realizacii deyatel'nosti: Avtoref. dokt. diss. IP RAN, Moskva, 2004. 6-10 р. (in Russian).

30. Mikheeva E.V., Prygin G.S. Theoretical modeling of a tool for studying subjectivity in a situation of uncertainty. Yaroslavskiy pedagogicheskiy vestnik (Yaroslavl Pedagogical Bulletin). 2023;(4):116-128. (in Russian). doi:10.20323/1813-145X_2023_4_133_116

31. Falikman M.V. Constructivism methodology in cognitive psychology. Psikhologicheskie issledovaniya (Psychological Research). 2016;9(48). (in Russian). doi:10.54359/ps.v9i48.442

32. Dalgleish T., Werner-Seidler A. Disruptions in autobiographical memory processing in depression and the emergence of memory therapeutics. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2014; 18(11):596-604. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.06.010

33. Maligin Ya.V., Boev I.V., Maligin V.L., Akhverdova O.A. Effectiveness of cognitivebehavioral therapy for comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders. Meditsinskiy vestnik Severnogo Kavkaza (Medical Bulletin of the North Caucasus). 2023;18(3):342-345. (in Russian). doi:10.14300/mmnc.2023.18081

34. Grupe D.W., Nitschke J.B. Uncertainty and anticipation in anxiety: an integrated neurobiological and psychological perspective. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2013;(14):488-501. doi: 10.1038/nrn3524

35. Yunilaynen O.A., Starostina E.G., Oleichik I.V. Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Depressive Disorders and Treatment Resistance. Psihiatriya (Psychiatry). 2023;21(1):73–90. (In Russian). doi: 10.30629/2618-6667-2023-21-1-73-90.

36. Beresneva, A.F., Iznak, E.V. Neurophysiological correlates of decision-making efficiency in depressive disorders. Psihiatriya (Psychiatry). 2024; 22(4/2), 86-87. (in Russian). doi: 10.30629/2618-6667-2024-22-4-2

37. Bar M. A cognitive neuroscience hypothesis of mood and depression. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2009; 13(11):456-463. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2009.08.009

38. Sozinov A.A., Aleksandrov I.O., Gorkin A.G., Grechenko T.N., Aleksandrov Yu.I. Memory consolidation, reconsolidation, extinction, and forgetting: A literature review. Rossiyskiy psikhologicheskiy zhurnal (Russian Psychological Journal). 2023;20(3):131-156. (in Russian). doi:10.21702/rpj.2023.3.7

39. Festinger L. Teoriya kognitivnogo dissonansa. Moscow, Eksmo, 2018. (in Russian).

40. Ecker B. Understanding memory reconsolidation. The Neuropsychotherapist. 2015; (10):4-23. doi: 10.12744/tnpt(10)004-022