Post-traumatic stress disorder among students of higher medical and technical education is a real threat today
Authors: Chorna V. V. , Antomonov M. Yu. , Pavlenko N. , Khliestova S. S. , Kolomiets V. V. , Syrota M. G. 
Published: April 2024

Annotation. Military actions on the territory of Ukraine have led to an increase in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among student youth. According to the results of various scientists, PTSD symptoms among young people ranged from 12.4% to 70% from various events: violence, loss of family and friends, internal displacement (IDP), and loss of habitual life. PTSD negatively affects the quality of life, physical, mental, and social well-being. Living in war zones and IDPs can create or increase the risk of direct or indirect effects on the physical, psychological/mental health of young people. The impact of war and migration on the mental health of young people is enormous, with high prevalence of depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. War-related trauma, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder, is a significant risk factor for the further development of mental disorders. Testing was conducted: Stage 1 – “Determination of potentially traumatic events in life among applicants” was attended by 452 applicants of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia (VNMU), Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University and 80 applicants of Vinnytsia National Technical University (VNTU), Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, of whom 24.6% were males and 75.4% were females, aged 15-19 – 65.8%, 20-28 – 21.1%, over 29 – 13.1%; Stage 2 – assessment of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder – PCL-5 Scale “Checklist of PTSD Symptoms”, which met the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD, 121 applicants took part, including 112 applicants from National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia (VNMU), and 9 from other medical universities, of which 19.0% were males and 81.0% were females, 44.6% were aged 15-19, 53.7% were aged 20-28, and 1.7% were over 29. According to our research, 45.9% of the applicants for the institution of technical profile and 24.8% of the institution of medical profile were combatants or had been in the war zone. Participants or those who took part in road traffic accident assistance were 26.8% of applicants for traffic accident and 24.3% of applicants for institution of technical profile. Sexual violence (rape, attempted rape, coercion to perform any type of sexual act by force or threats) was experienced by 18.9% of institution of technical profile and 16.9% of institution of medical profile applicants. It was found that 47.7% of men had experienced physical violence, compared to 8.2% of women. Of the women applicants for higher education, 30.4% were in the war zone, and 18.2% of men applicants. As participants in unwanted or unpleasant sexual violence, 26.8% of women and 11.4% of men students of Ukrainian higher education institutions experienced unwanted or unpleasant sexual violence. Severe suffering was experienced by 23.7% of female applicants and 22.7% of male applicants. Changes in gender characteristics: the study found that PTSD symptoms were more prevalent among women (33.2%) and men (25.0%). The older the age of university students, the greater the manifestations of PTSD symptoms. The role of PTSD as a moderator of depression deserves further investigation in larger studies in different groups of young people.