COMORBIDITY OF ADAPTATION DISORDER AND COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN MILITARY SERVICEMEN

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the influence of cognitive disorders on the severity of the adaptation reaction in military servicemen. The study was conducted on the basis of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 8. The study involved 71 servicemen who were in the rehabilitation department. Mini-Mental State examination, MMSE (Short Mental Status Assessment Scale) for the diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction; PCL-5 – PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (F. Weathers et al.) – for the diagnosis of PTSD; PHQ-9 – The nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (R. Spitzer et al.) – for the assessment of the level of depressive symptoms; GAD-7 – General Anxiety Disorder (R. Spitzer et al.) – for the determination of the level of generalized anxiety. As a result of the MMSE diagnosis, 2 groups of respondents were formed: without cognitive dysfunctions and a group with cognitive dysfunctions. Mild cognitive disorders were detected in a significant number of the servicemen studied: difficulties with memorizing new information; decreased concentration of attention; mild slowing of thinking. In the group of military personnel with cognitive impairments, a significant part of the respondents has clinically significant manifestations of PTSD, which include: intrusive memories, avoidance of traumatic events, negative changes in emotions and cognitions, symptoms of hyperactivity. Depressive symptoms are characteristic of both groups of subjects; in the group with cognitive dysfunctions, more pronounced depressive symptoms were observed. Military personnel with cognitive dysfunctions demonstrated a slightly higher level of anxiety than the participants of the first group. Statistical data were obtained using all three methods, which showed the significance of the differences between the groups. There is no connection between the age of military personnel and the level of their psychological symptoms (PTSD, depression, and anxiety).The results confirmed the assumption that cognitive dysfunctions may be associated with more pronounced symptoms of adjustment disorders in military personnel.