PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE OF WAR VICTIMS IN UKRAINE: ASSESSMENT OF STRESS REACTIONS AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

The psychological analysis of the victims' condition is an important tool for understanding and determining the peculiarities of the impact of traumatic events on the human psyche (Bondarchuk, 2016: 11–14). This study examined the psychological aspect of the state of survivors of traumatic events, focusing in particular on reactions, adaptation mechanisms and possible ways to restore the mental health of military personnel, people from the temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The study involved 250 (45.5%) servicemen and 300 civilians (110 people from the temporarily occupied territories and 190 people from IDPs) with various psychological symptoms. The psychological states were assessed using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Self-Assessment Scale and the Mississippi Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (Hryshchenko, 2022: 166–180). Levels of anxiety were measured using the Beck Anxiety Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) and the PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire were used to assess levels of anxiety and depression, revealing significant levels across all study groups. Further research is needed to improve the methods of medical and psychological rehabilitation aimed at improving the psychological state of war victims.