Abstract
<jats:p>The vast majority of combatants, in addition to traumatic injuries, experience significant psychological trauma, which manifests as depressive and anxiety disorders, as well as impairments in emotional regulation and cognitive functioning. Preserving the mental health of military personnel and supporting their psychological resilience are among the key challenges of modern psychiatry and medical psychology. The aim of this study was to investigate of the spectrum of psycho-emotional disorders among military personnel with adjustment disorders, with the aim of developing therapeutic and rehabilitation strategies. Participants and methods. After giving informed consent to participate in the study, 310 male military personnel with adjustment disorders aged 19 to 59 years old underwent a comprehensive examination. Group I included 134 persons with adjustment disorders, group II included 176 persons with adjustment disorders and physical combat injuries (96 persons with adjustment disorders and mild traumatic brain injury due to mine-blast trauma, 80 persons with adjustment disorders and gunshot or shrapnel wounds). The combat injuries sustained were recorded in the relevant medical documentation. The following methods were used: clinical and anamnestic, clinical and psychopathological, and psychodiagnostic methods, including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21), as well as methods of mathematical statistics. Results. Emotional disorders in the form of depression and anxiety resulting from stressors are the most common problems among military personnel. Patients with combat-related psychological trauma exhibit critically high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress (very severe on the DASS-21 scale), while patients with combined psychological and physical trauma have lower, but clinically significant, scores on all subscales. Conclusions. Psychological trauma exerts a profound negative impact on the well-being of military personnel and, in severe cases, may pose a direct threat to life. Therefore, the implementation of systems for early screening of depressive and anxiety symptoms, along with psychoeducational programs, is essential. In addition, psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions should be integrated into military training and rehabilitation programs.</jats:p>