Clinical and psychopathological features of depressive disorders in survivors of hostilities

Abstract

Psychosocial stressor (war) has a negative impact on the mental health of all citizens of our country, servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, soldiers of the National Guard and prisoners, their relatives and refugees who have been forced to leave their living places. A comprehensive examination was conducted of 150 patients with depressive disorders, both sexes, aged 20–55 years. Group I of the survey included 50 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who took a direct part in hostilities in the ATO zone, group II included 50 internally displaced persons and group III included 50 volunteers whose activities are related to supporting the military in the ATO zone. According to the results of the study, the clinical structure of depressive disorders in the examined patients is presented as anxious (in 30 % of combatants; 24 % of migrants and 26% of volunteers), labile (in 26%; 30%; 22% of patients, respectively), apathetic (in 28% of patients of group I; 24% of group II; 28% of group III) and asthenic (in 16%; 22%; 24%, respectively) types. The data obtained during the study formed the basis for the development of a personalized program of psychotherapeutic support and prevention of suicidal behavior in patients with stress-related depressive disorders. Keywords: depressive disorders, hostilities, combat mental trauma, anxiety.