Multiparametric diagnostics of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in military university cadets – participants of the special military operation

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical study of the prevalence and structure of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in military university cadets with experience of participation in the special military operation (SMO). The subject of the research was the psychometric characteristics of PTSD symptoms in this category of respondents. The aim of the work was to develop and test a diagnostic model for multiparametric assessment of PTSD symptoms in cadets – combat participants. The methodological basis of the research was formed by the activity-based and polysubject approaches in psychology, the theory of combat stress and the concept of psychological trauma. The methods used included: clinical-psychological interview, Mississippi Scale (military version), SCL-90-R symptom checklist, PTSD scale for diagnostic interview, as well as the author's PTSD symptom questionnaire. The total empirical sample comprised 210 people (78 cadets – SMO participants, 62 cadets without combat experience, and 70 civilian volunteers in the control group). Statistical data processing involved calculation of descriptive statistics, correlation and factor analysis (MS Excel, IBM SPSS Statistics v. 27). The results showed that 36.4% of cadets – SMO participants exhibited clinically significant PTSD symptoms, with intrusion and hyperarousal symptoms being the most pronounced. Significant correlations were found between PTSD symptom severity and indicators of depression (r=0.58, p=0.01), anxiety (r=0.52, p=0.01) and somatization (r=0.41, p=0.01). Factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure of PTSD symptoms. The scope of application of the results is psychological diagnostics, prevention and psychocorrection of post-traumatic conditions in military personnel and military university cadets. The novelty of the research lies in the development of a multiparametric diagnostic model of PTSD symptoms in relation to the specific category of cadets – SMO participants and in the creation of original diagnostic tools. Conclusions: the obtained data confirm the high prevalence of PTSD symptoms among cadets with combat experience and substantiate the need for implementation of systematic psychological diagnostics and psychocorrectional work into the educational process of military universities.