Psychological consequences of combat trauma at the hospital stage of rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Currently, the issues of restoring the somatic and mental health of combatants undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in hospital conditions are becoming particularly relevant.

AIM: To examine and compare the mental states and psychological consequences of combat trauma at the hospital stage of rehabilitation of combatants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 97 combatants with various wounds and injuries that were hospitalized in the clinical units of the surgical and therapeutic profile of the Military Medical Academy. Of these, 44 people were examined in 2014 and 53 people in 2022.

RESULTS: Comparison of independent samples of combatants in 2014 and 2022 at the stage of treatment and rehabilitation showed a statistically significant twofold decrease in asthenic manifestations from 38.6% in 2014 to 20% in 2022 (p < 0.05). The relative number of combatants with negative psychological consequences of combat trauma in the form of manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder in 2014 and 2022 was similar and amounted to 15.9% and 17%, respectively, which is apparently due to the homogeneity of the sample and the similarity of factors causing these stress-reactive changes. Uncompensated negative psychological consequences of combat trauma can be fixed in the form of combatant accentuation and chronic, irreversible personality change. These stress-reactive changes reduce both the professional qualities of the combatants and their quality of life.

CONCLUSION: The clinical and psychological characteristics of patients indicate the need for psychological assistance, starting from the moment of injury and continuing throughout the wound disease.