Trauma of Forced Displacement in Children as a Result of Russian-Ukrainian War

Introduction: In the modern world, forced displacement is considered as one of the most serious threats to mental health, especially for vulnerable groups, and at the same time as a decisive humanitarian problem. Children who are still in the process of identity and psycho-emotional stability formation are an extremely vulnerable category, since their ability to adapt significantly depends on adults and relationships with the environment. Purpose: To study the impact of traumatic experience associated with forced displacement due to Russian-Ukrainian war, on the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and behavioral disorders in children. Methodology: The study included 40 children, 11±2.3 years old. The control group, representative by age and sex, consisted of 20 children. Using PCL-5, CPS-V-SR, SSS-8, and Vanderbilt Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Parenting Scale (VADPRS), the authors have conducted a quantitative and qualitative study of post-traumatic symptoms. Results: The results indicated the high prevalence of PTSD, with dominance of intrusive symptoms, hyperactivation, negative cognitive schemes, and somatic complaints. The factor analysis confirmed the binary structure of post-traumatic response: “psychophysiological matrix of uncontrolled trauma” and “pattern of affective depletion. VADPRS scale revealed a persistent tendency to mild distraction as a leading cognitive symptom, as well as less common but structured manifestations of impulsiveness, opposition, anxiety, and affective turbulence. Factor analysis provided an opportunity to define four patterns of psycho-emotional disorganization: socio-cognitive disorientation, impulse dysregulation, antisocial processing of trauma, and affective protest behavior. Conclusion: The authors emphasize the importance of not only clinical recognition of these patterns, but also the public recognition of the fact of traumatization due to forced displacement, which is often depreciated in public discourse.