The application of modern psychophysiological hardware and software complexes in prediction of resistance to combat psychological stress

Abstract

Modern concepts about the dynamics of states of servicemen following combat mental trauma are presented. Psychological mechanisms of the development of post-traumatic stress disorder are described. The results of psychological examination of servicemen-combatants are briefly summarized. It is shown that 40% of them have negative psychological consequences of combat stress in the form of signs of partial post-traumatic stress disorder, which correlate with manifestations of neurotic disorders. Signs of partial post-traumatic stress disorder in healthy military combatants reduce the self-assessment of the quality of life, but do not significantly affect the professional aspect of social functioning in favorable conditions, that does not allow to identify the presence of negative psychological consequences of combat stress by commander expert assessment.
 In addition to the psychological examination, the servicemen underwent stress testing on the Rehacor hardware psychophysiological software complex, which consisted in the fact that the subject was alternately presented with stress stimuli consisting of video and audio sequences on the monitor screen and in headphones in accordance with a pre-compiled scenario. In the course of stress testing the physiological parameters of the subject were recorded. In military personnel with signs of partial post-traumatic stress disorder, a decrease in the threshold of sensitivity to stress was found, which in combat conditions can lead to the development of acute stress-induced mental disorders and to be the reason for the growth of violations, mistakes, the adoption of incorrect operational and tactical decisions, the demoralization of personnel, the growth of sanitary and irretrievable losses and losses of military equipment and weapons.
 Based on the physiological parameters obtained during stress testing, a method for diagnosing signs of partial post-traumatic disorder has been developed. This method makes it possible to objectify the identification of the negative psychological consequences of combat stress and can be used in the interests of psychological and psychiatric intelligence.