Specific features of re-adaptation of military personnel after leaving the combat zone

The issue of re-adaptation of military personnel after taking part in combat operations is one of the most complex and urgent challenges in the context of modern social and psychological difficulties. Soldiers returning to civilian life after combat often face numerous difficulties, related not only to physical recovery but also to psychological and social reintegration. These include experiencing traumatic stress, alienation, social isolation, and challenges in adapting to a changed reality. The purpose of this study was to analyse the existing research on the issue, as well as to conduct an experimental examination of the manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and stress in military personnel. The empirical study employed diagnostic methods such as the PTSD Checklist – Military Version (PCL-M), the Perceived Stress Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The experimental findings revealed that most combat veterans experience significant psycho-emotional difficulties, including specific signs of PTSD, elevated levels of stress, moderate-to-high anxiety levels, and moderate depressive symptoms indicative of mild-to-moderate depression. Among the study participants, varying levels of depressive symptoms and high psycho-emotional tension were observed, complicating the social adaptation. The findings emphasised that rehabilitation should involve multidisciplinary support, combining psychotherapeutic methods, pharmacological treatment when necessary, and socio-psychological support to foster psychological resilience and social reintegration of veterans. The obtained data can be used to improve rehabilitation methodologies and develop innovative approaches for the effective restoration of veterans’ mental health in the future