PSYCHOLOGICAL AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE SERVICEMEN OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF UKRAINE WHO GUARDED THE CHERNOBYL SSNP AFTER RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY

Abstract

Introduction. The negative effects caused by long-term captivity in war can have a profound, irreversible effect on the human body, affecting both physical and mental health. The negative effects caused by prolonged detention in captivity can have a profound, irreversible impact on the human body, affecting both physical and mental health. The number of studies examining the neurological and cognitive effects of captivity and torture on prisoners of war is still very limited. The aim of the study was to determine the peculiarities of psychological and neurophysiological changes in the early period after release of the National Guard of Ukraine servicemen who guarded the ChNPP and were held in Russian captivity after the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Russia's actions in Ukraine, including its treatment of prisoners of war, are in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The negative effects caused by prolonged captivity can have a profound, irreversible impact on the human body, affecting both physical and mental health. The servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine who were held in captivity have moderately pronounced persistent dysfunction of the cerebral cortex and reticular formation of the brain stem.

Methods. The following methods were used during the study: quantified psychodiagnostic, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and statistical.

Results. A significant increase in spectral theta power was detected with an increase in psychopathological anxiety, depressive symptoms, neurocognitive deficits, and PTSD symptoms.

Conclusions. The identified trends may indicate the presence of persistent cerebral dysfunction due to captivity as a possible cerebral basis for the further development of anxiety and depression and the worsening of PTSD and other stress-related disorders. These changes require further observation and study.

References

Apalkov, V.V. (2023). Psychological mechanisms of regulating the behavior of prisoners of war by means of symbolic mimicry. [Diss. of the candidate of psychological sciences (PhD), The National Defense University of Ukraine named after Ivan Cherniakhovskyi]. State registration number: 0823U100459 [in Ukrainian]. https://nuou.org.ua/assets/documents/dr-kep-apal-23.pdf

Gates, M.A., Holowka, D.W., Vasterling, J., Terence, M., Keane, T.M., Marx, B.P., & Rosen, R.C. (2012). Posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans and military personnel: epidemiology, screening, and case recognition. Psychological services, 9(4), 361–382. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027649

Jukić, M., Malenica, L., Duricic, V., Talapko, J., Lukinac, J., Jukic, M., & Škrlec, I. (2023). Long-Term Consequences of War Captivity in Military Veterans. Healthcare, 11(14). https://doi:10.3390/healthcare11141993

Kokun, O., Agayev, N., Pischko, I., & Stasiuk, V. (2020). Characteristic impacts of combat stressors on posttraumatic stress disorder in Ukrainian military personnel who participated in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 20(3), 315–326. https://www.ijpsy.com/volumen20/num3/554.html

Lohanovskyi, K., & Kuts, K. (2016). Cognitive evoked potentials P300 after irradiation. Problemy radiatsiinoi medytsyny i radiobiolohii Problems of radiation medicine and radiobiology, 21, 264–290 [in Ukrainian]. https://radiationproblems.org.ua/21_2016_ukr_s264.html

Lohanovskyi, K., & Kuts, K. (2017). Evoked bioelectrical activity of the brain after irradiation. Problemy radiatsiinoi medytsyny i radiobiolohii Problems of radiation medicine and radiobiology, 22, 38–68 [in Ukrainian]. https://radiationproblems.org.ua/22_2017_ua_s38.html

Meziab, O., Kirby, K.A., Williams, B., Yaffe, K., Byers, A.L., & Barnes, D.E. (2014). Prisoner of war status, posttraumatic stress disorder, and dementia in older veterans. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 10(3, Suppl), 236–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.004

Samynin, Ya., & Sokolova, I. (2023). Cognitive and emotional-affective disorders in combatants with traumatic brain injury (literature review). Ukrainskyi nevrolohichnyi zhurnal Ukrainian Neurological Journal, 1-4, 28‒44 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.30978/UNJ2023-1-4-28

Shanks, G.D. (2023). Gastrointestinal Mortality in Military / Prison Camps of the 19th-20th Centuries. The Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health, 31(4), 29–32. https://doi-ds.org/doilink/10.2023-79933527/JMVH Vol 31 No 4

Stein, J.Y., Itzhaky, L., Levi-Belz, Y., & Solomon, Z. (2017). Traumatization, loneliness, and suicidal ideation among former prisoners of war: A longitudinally assessed sequential mediation model. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8, 281. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00281

Shvets, A. (2022). Prognostic assessment of the need for medical rehabilitation of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine based on data on the structure of their combat trauma. Ukrainskyi zhurnal viiskovoi medytsyny Ukrainian Journal of Military Medicine, 3(3), 110‒117 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/0.46847/ujmm.2022.3(3)-110

Shyrobokov, Yu.M. (2020). Psychology of military captivity. [Diss. DSc (Psych.), National University of Civil Defense of Ukraine]. Library of the National University of Civil Defense of Ukraine [in Ukrainian]. https://nuczu.edu.ua/images/topmenu/science/spetsializovani-vcheni-rady/22/shurobokov.pdf

Timchenko, O., Prychodko I., Shyrobokov, Yu., Onishchenko, & N., Lefterov, V. (2021). Psychological Aspects of Captivity in the War in the East of Ukraine. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 52(1) 97–106. https://doi.org/10.24425/ppb.2021.136820

Tymchenko, O., & Shyrobokov, Yu. (2019). Psychological phenomenology of modern military captivity. In S.D. Maksymenko, S.B. Kuzikova, V.L. Zlyvkov (Eds.), Psychological technologies for effective functioning and personality development (Vol. 3, pp. 224‒246) [in Ukrainian]. http://psychology-naes-ua.institute/files/pdf/1_1562758276.pdf

United Nations Human Right. (2024, Mar 26). Report On The Human Rights Situation In Ukraine (1 December 2023 – 29 February, 2024). https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/ukraine/2024/report-human-rights-situation-ukraine-1-dec-2023-29-feb-2024.pdf

Ursano, R.J., Fullerton, C.S., & Norwood, A.E. (2003). Terrorism and disasters: Prevention, intervention, and recovery. In R.J. Ursano, C.S. Fullerton, & A.E. Norwood (Eds.), Terrorism and disaster: Individual and community mental health interventions (pp. 333–339). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org10.1192/pb.28.5.186-a

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. (2023, Oct. 23). Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (document 995_154 dated 1949, August 12, ed.: letter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs No. 72/14-612-20689 dated 02/23/2023) [in Ukrainian]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/995_154