The effect of psychoeducation on the level of anxiety and depression in combat participants

Abstract

In conditions of constant threat to life, the experience of anxiety and depression often comes to the fore. According to the World Health Organization, about 16% of the world's population suffers from the consequences of military conflicts and war, and about 12% have war-traumatized family members. a meta-analysis of studies on mental disorders associated with wars and armed conflicts showed that the combined prevalence of depression was 28.9%, anxiety - 30.7%, and PTSD - 23.5% . Analysis of individual subgroups showed a significant difference in the prevalence of depression and anxiety, but not PTSD, between civilians and military personnel (p <0.001), namely: depression - 34.7% vs. 21.1%; anxiety - 38.6% against 16.2%; PTSD - 25.7% versus 21.3%, respectively. The cumulative prevalence of depression during the war reached 38.7%, after the war - 29.1%. The overall prevalence of anxiety during the war was 43.4%, after the war it was 30.3%. All study participants received psychoeducation during their stay in the hospital. The average indicator of the level of anxiety on the GAD-7 scale at the time of admission to treatment is 11.4 points, at the time of discharge this indicator decreased to 7.2 points. The average depression level on the PHQ-9 scale at the time of admission to treatment is 13 points, which indicates a moderate severity of depression, at the time of discharge, this indicator decreased to 8.8 points, which indicates a mild severity of depression.