Indicators of mental adaptation disorders in combatants of the special military operation
Authors: Shamrey V. K. , Evdokimov V. I. , Pluzhnik M. P. 
Published: November 2024

Relevance. Participants of armed conflicts are exposed to extreme stress amid life-threatening situations, which can lead to mental adaptation disorders exacerbated by combat stress disorders. Combatants facing these conditions require psychological correction and psychotherapy.

The objective is to assess the risk of mental adaptation disorders in combatants using traditional diagnostics and fasts screening methods.

Methods. A cohort of 163 combatants who participated in the special military operation underwent clinical and psychological examination. The average age of subjects was 34.3 years, and the average time of service in the special military operation was 8.2 months. The combatants’ psychological status was evaluated using the Mississippi Scale (military version), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. In addition, a set of screening methods, like PC-PTSD-5, PHQ9, and GAD-7, were used to evaluate the risk of mental maladaptation, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. In the course of examination, the reliability of responses was assessed using 10 adapted questions for sincerity evaluation obtained from a standardized personality assessment method. The present study shows the median value, as well as the upper and lower quartiles (Me [Q1; Q3]). The consistency of the studied indicators was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results and analysis. The average sincerity score was 7 [6; 8] points, showing sufficient reliability of the examination results. The psychological test results re concordant with the overall transformation pattern in the functional and mental profile of stress exposed combatants, depending on the duration of exposure to combat conditions. The average Mississippi Scale scores were 71 [63; 84] points, and 2 [1; 3] points on the PC-PTSD-5, associated with absence of mental adaptation disorders and a low probability of PTSD, respectively. PTSD clinical symptoms were identified in 3.7% of the examined combatants (compared to 14.3% in foreign publications), and mental adaptation disorders were observed in 8.6%. All these methods showed moderate, positive, and statistically significant (r = 0.627; p < 0.001) consistency of obtained indicators. The average Beck Depression Inventory score was 7 [3; 12] points, and the PHQ-9 score was 5 [3; 8] points, suggesting absence or mild depression, respectively. The methods demonstrated strong, positive, and statistically significant (r = 0.799; p < 0.001) consistency among the indicators. The average Beck Anxiety Inventory score was 10 [4; 18] points, and the GAD-7 screening method score was 5 [2; 6] points, corresponding to low or moderate anxiety. For both methods, the consistency among indicators was moderate, positive, and statistically significant (r = 0.567; p < 0.001).

Conclusion. The study justified the reliability of results obtained by traditional tests and screening methods, showing trustworthy indications for psychological correction (psychotherapy) in the examined combatants.