Combatants’ Self-assessment of Mental Health

Abstract

In order to analyze the self-assessment of mental health status of combatants, a year after the execution of operational and service tasks in special conditions, a complete survey of 964 combatants was conducted, which were divided into three groups by level of mental health: Group I - 338 people – healthy combatants who were not provided with rehabilitation assistance; Group II - 311 persons who for 6 years prior to the survey, according to the outpatient cards revealed prenosological neurotic conditions, clinical data on the presence of borderline mental disorders (BMD) after returning from combat zones in this group was not revealed, they were provided with short-term psycho-correctional assistance by psychologists at the place of service; Group III – 315 people who were diagnosed with adaptation disorders (AD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in this regard, they were treated and medical & psychological rehabilitation. A year after the events, a clinical examination and a questionnaire were conducted. It is shown that the mental state of combatants with BMD is characterized by the absence of clinical symptoms, which indicates the effectiveness of the activities. Given the fact that persons who did not receive psycho-prophylactic and rehabilitation aid, a year after participating in the fighting are identified psychosomatic disorders and specific psychopathological symptoms, we have proposed the improvement of methodological approaches to providing them with psychoprophylactic assistance with the development of legislative regulation of complex rehabilitation measures. Keywords: Combatants; Mental disorders; Self-assessment; Stages of rehabilitation