Background: In recent years, dramatic political changes and the ensuing war in Ukraine have led to a
signifcant increase in the number of stress-related disorders, in particular among military personnel.
The study was designed to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of mental health disorders among
the Ukrainian military referred to inpatient assessment and treatment at a large military psychiatric
hospital located in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of 9109 inpatient admissions to the psychiatric clinic
of national military medical clinical centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, between January 2014 and December
2018. Most of the patients were contracted military service ofcers, 2014-2018.
Results: The population sufered from a wide range of mental illnesses. Neurotic, stress-related, and
somatoform disorders were predominant among the ofcers, while psychotic disorders, personality
disorders, and mental retardation were prevalent among the conscripts. In 2016-2018, the nosological
structure of mental disorders remained stable with the highest prevalence of stress-related and
somatoform disorders, except a decrease in substance use disorders and an increase in psychotic
disorders. Among the outpatients discharged (n=128) in 2017-2018, the majority had sleep disturbances
and fashbacks (73%); anxiety and irritability (84%); and sufered from fatigue and low mood (80.9%).
The level of satisfaction with the social benefts and support from the authorities of the veterans was
extremely low (7.4%).
Conclusion: The study revealed the impact of war trauma on the mental health of the service
members, necessitating the development of specifc preventive measures and digital mental health
tools to support military personnel resource shortages and stigma.