Clinician Assessed Rates of PTSD and Complex PTSD in a Medical‐Rehabilitation Sample of Active‐Duty Military Personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

TL;DR

This study estimates PTSD and Complex PTSD rates in Ukrainian military personnel, finding high prevalence and comorbidity with depression.

Contribution

First assessment of PTSD and CPTSD in Ukrainian combat-exposed military personnel using clinical interviews.

Findings

45.9% of soldiers were diagnosed with PTSD and 21.5% with CPTSD.

34.4% were diagnosed with major depression, with high comorbidity with PTSD and CPTSD.

Officers were more likely to have CPTSD, while enlisted soldiers were more likely to have PTSD.

Abstract

Millions of people have served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) since Russia's invasion in 2014, but there is currently no information about the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in this population. The main purpose of this study was to estimate rates of ICD‐11 PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD), and comorbidity with major depression, in a sample of active‐duty, combat‐exposed AFU military personnel.

Clinical interviews were conducted with 590 soldiers recruited from military hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Ukraine. All were trauma‐exposed during military operations. PTSD and CPTSD were diagnosed using the International Trauma Interview, and a current episode of major depression was diagnosed using the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview.

Overall, 67.4% of soldiers were diagnosed with ICD‐11 PTSD or CPTSD, with 45.9% being diagnosed with PTSD and 21.5% with CPTSD. Additionally, 34.4% were diagnosed with major depression, and comorbidity with PTSD (45.0%) and CPTSD (51.2%) was high. Elevated rates of PTSD were observed for current smokers and those who were currently consuming alcohol, while elevated rates of CPTSD were observed for officers (versus enlisted soldiers) and those recruited from rehabilitation facilities (vs. general hospitals).

Although not representative of the entire AFU population, these results imply that hundreds of thousands of soldiers (and veterans) in Ukraine are likely experiencing clinically significant posttraumatic distress related to their combat experiences. Results are discussed in the context of finding scalable approaches to addressing this mental health challenge.

Significant outcomes○Among active‐duty, combat‐exposed Ukrainian soldiers, 45.9% were diagnosed with PTSD and 21.5% with Complex PTSD.○34.4% were diagnosed with major depression, and comorbidity with PTSD (45.0%) and Complex PTSD (51.2%) was high.○Officers were more likely to be diagnosed with Complex PTSD whereas enlisted soldiers were more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD.
Limitations○The sample was not representative of the entire population of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, limiting the generalizability of the results.○Inter‐rater reliability was not assessed limiting the interpretability of the results.

Significant outcomes○Among active‐duty, combat‐exposed Ukrainian soldiers, 45.9% were diagnosed with PTSD and 21.5% with Complex PTSD.○34.4% were diagnosed with major depression, and comorbidity with PTSD (45.0%) and Complex PTSD (51.2%) was high.○Officers were more likely to be diagnosed with Complex PTSD whereas enlisted soldiers were more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD.

Among active‐duty, combat‐exposed Ukrainian soldiers, 45.9% were diagnosed with PTSD and 21.5% with Complex PTSD.

34.4% were diagnosed with major depression, and comorbidity with PTSD (45.0%) and Complex PTSD (51.2%) was high.

Officers were more likely to be diagnosed with Complex PTSD whereas enlisted soldiers were more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD.

Limitations○The sample was not representative of the entire population of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, limiting the generalizability of the results.○Inter‐rater reliability was not assessed limiting the interpretability of the results.

The sample was not representative of the entire population of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, limiting the generalizability of the results.

Inter‐rater reliability was not assessed limiting the interpretability of the results.