POSTTRAUMATIC DEPRESSIVE AND COGNITIVE DI SORDERS IN COMBAT-EXPERIENCED MILI TARY PERSONNEL AFTER MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32689/2663-0672-2025-4-6Keywords:
traumatic brain injury, mild TBI, concussion, depression, anxiety, cognitive impairments, quality of life, military personnel, combat experienceAbstract
Background. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the most common type of neurotrauma among combat-experienced military personnel and is often accompanied by prolonged post-traumatic psycho-emotional and cognitive impairments. Depressive disorders are of particular clinical significance, as they negatively affect the recovery process and rehabilitation efficiency relations between depressive manifestations, clinical, and socio-psychological factors in combat-experienced military personnel following closed mild traumatic brain injury. Materials and Methods. A total of 144 male combat-experienced military personnel aged 20–55 years who had sustained a concussion were examined. The control group consisted of 20 practically healthy individuals of matched age and gender. Psychoemotional state was assessed using the Hamilton, Beck, and Spielberger-Khanin scales, as well as the SAN scale (Well-being, Activity, Mood). Cognitive functions were determined using the MMSE scale, and quality of life was assessed using a point scale. Statistical analysis included parametric and non-parametric methods with correlation assessment. Results. Combat-experienced military personnel showed significantly higher indicators of depression and anxiety, as well as lower indicators of cognitive status and mood compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Pronounced depressive manifestations according to the Beck scale were observed in 31.95% of the examined subjects, whereas according to the Hamilton scale, they were observed in 9.72%. Significant correlations were established between levels of depression, anxiety, decline in cognitive functions, and quality of life. Socio-psychological factors, particularly the level of social support, significantly influenced the severity of depressive manifestations. Conclusions. Depression following mild combat traumatic brain injury is a common and prognostically unfavorable complication, closely associated with anxiety, cognitive impairments, and reduced quality of life. The comprehensive application of standardized clinical and self-assessment neuropsychological scales is appropriate for early diagnosis and the optimization of rehabilitation measures in military personnel
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