Peculiarities of Adaptation and Course of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Servicemen Deployed to Intense Combat Zones

In the context of war, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) emerges as one of the most prevalent psychological conditions, particularly among military personnel deployed in combat zones. The primary triggers for PTSD in military personnel often include the loss of comrades or the necessity to use lethal weapons, resulting in significant consequences. For PTSD to manifest, individuals must undergo a traumatic experience that exceeds normal human stress levels and leads to distress. The aim of this study is to investigate the course of PTSD in military personnel who have been exposed to intense combat operations and to explore their maladaptive manifestations. The study comprised 38 patients diagnosed with PTSD (F43.1) according to the ICD-10, who received treatment at the Regional Mental Health Care Institution for the Protection of the Armed Forces. All patients provided informed consent to participate in the study. A structured clinical diagnostic interview known as CAPS-DX was applied in this study. Developed based on the DSM-IV, this interview assesses the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the duration of the disorder, and the degree of impairment of social functioning. The CAPS-DX scale provided insights into the presence of PTSD symptoms both currently and throughout the individual's life following psychotrauma. To diagnose psychosocial maladjustment and its characteristics, we employed the Psychosocial Maladjustment Scale by L. Herasymenko (2018). Clinical and anamnestic examinations revealed that 86% of servicemen had experienced multiple traumatic events, indicating a history of several psychotraumas. The study identified that the primary psychopathological manifestations of PTSD did not differ significantly from the traditional course of the disorder, but they were more intense and pronounced in this group of servicemen. The study has demonstrated that servicemen with combat experience and PTSD exhibited reduced levels of psychosocial adaptation. Their adaptive resources and capabilities, as well as their neuropsychological stability, were significantly diminished, along with a decrease in their communication abilities. Based on the overall level and quality of social and psychological adaptation, three levels of adaptation/maladaptation were distinguished among servicemen with combat-related PTSD: sufficient, partial, or maladaptation. It should be noted that the levels of adaptation were correlated with the severity of anxiety. Servicemen with sufficient adaptation typically exhibited low levels of anxiety, while those with partial adaptation showed an average level, and those with maladaptation displayed high levels of anxiety. The study revealed a spectrum of psychopathological manifestations in servicemen who were in the combat zone, ranging from semiotic complexes resembling panic attacks to psychogenic catalepsy. Furthermore, it was found that servicemen with combat experience and post-traumatic stress disorder had reduced levels of psychosocial adaptation, which correlated with the severity of anxiety.