PREDICTORS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN MILITARY PERSONNEL DEPLOYED TO PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS

Area of Science:

• Military mental health
• Psychotraumatology
• Epidemiology of mental disorders

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety are significant mental health concerns in armed forces.
• High comorbidity among these disorders complicates diagnosis and treatment.
• Limited data exists on mental health issues within Georgian military personnel involved in peacekeeping missions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and associations of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms in Georgian military personnel.
• To identify predictors of PTSD in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2810 male Georgian military personnel after a 6-month deployment.
• Self-report scales were used: PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) for PTSD, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) for depression and anxiety.
• Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between symptoms.

Main Results:

• Both depression and anxiety symptoms independently predicted PTSD.
• In a combined regression model, only depression symptom severity significantly predicted PTSD.
• A subset of participants (n=69) with a younger average age (M=29.68) was noted, limiting generalizability.

Conclusions:

• Depression is a significant factor to consider in military personnel experiencing PTSD.
• Clinicians should screen for depression in patients with PTSD to manage comorbidity effectively.
• Findings suggest a need for further research with broader demographics and validated diagnostic tools.