This article was originally published in Italian on Univadis .
The arrival of Ukrainian refugees in Western Europe, and especially the arrival of women and children coming from the cities most affected by the attacks, has made local medical services the first point of contact for the diagnosis and care of the psychological effects of war.
Many studies demonstrate the high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety among refugees. For example, a study from 2019 on refugee mental health offers a disturbing epidemiologic insight: Ten percent of refugees escaping conflict in Nepal showed signs of PTSD, 27.5% suffered from depression, and 22.9% suffered from anxiety. The rate of depression surpasses 90% in all studies carried out on survivors of torture.
Official guidelines
Posttraumatic stress is a form of mental disorder that manifests after experiencing highly traumatic events. Defined and studied in the United States, especially in veterans of the Vietnam War, and subsequently reviewed in relation to more recent conflicts, PTSD may appear in people of all ages. It also can occur in family members, witnesses, and aid workers involved in traumatic events. PTSD may come from repeated exposure to episodes of violence and degradation.
Because PTSD is a complex mental disorder derived from multiple factors, both personal and environmental, a diagnosis is never straightforward. It is generally indicated as “a condition of acute stress which manifests after exposure to a traumatic event.”
Among the most common symptoms of war-related trauma, according to experts, are the onset of flashbacks of troublesome memories, intrusive trauma-related thoughts, panic attacks, insomnia and night terrors, and social avoidance. In children, elements of regression can be observed, such as a need to sleep next to their parents.
Research performed directly on different areas of the brain has demonstrated that people affected by PTSD produce abnormal levels of hormones that are involved in responding to stress and fear. The area of the brain responsible for this response is the amygdala, which activates during moments of fear and produces natural pain-relieving molecules. In people with PTSD, the production of these molecules can carry on long after the event is over, causing a change in emotional state. Furthermore, levels of neurotransmitters that reach the hippocampus are also altered, which influences memory and learning capability. These same alterations concerning neurotransmitter levels are the basis for sudden flashbacks.
People with PTSD are subject to a change in blood flow to the brain and structural changes to brain tissue.
Social factors
“A factor that worsens the mental condition of Ukrainian refugees is the speed in which they have passed from a normal life, similar to that of many other Western countries, to a state of war, death, and injury,” writes Arash Javanbakht, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at Wayne State University in Detroit, and an expert in PTSD in war refugees.
Courtesy Shantanu Madaboosi
Dr. Arash Javanbakht with his research tarantula, Tony.
“Furthermore, they are experiencing an awful feeling of injustice, as the democracy and freedom that they have fought so hard to have has been put at risk, and they don’t feel sufficiently supported by their allies.”
As of this writing, the World Health Organization has estimated that there are 3.6 million Ukrainian refugees. This population already has experienced war and its psychological consequences. A study from 2019 assessed the prevalence of PTSD (27%) and depression (21%) among the 1.5 million Ukrainians who had to leave their homes after the first Russian invasion in 2014 and the rebellion of predominantly Russian regions.
Children are particularly at risk of developing PTSD, as seen from studies conducted on Syrian refugees. They have a roughly 70% chance of developing separation anxiety, a condition that many workers and volunteers have experienced firsthand recently. Some children do not accept being separated from their parents even to allow them to go to the bathroom or wash themselves, which also aggravates stress levels among adults. Infant trauma increases the risk of developing physical or mental disorders during adulthood, including depression, chronic pain, heart disorders, and diabetes.
War-related trauma entails transmissible epigenetic alterations, as shown by studies on the transmissibility of trauma on a biological level.
Diagnosis and treatment
People with PTSD have difficulty controlling their emotions, resulting in irritability, sudden rage or emotional confusion, depression and anxiety, and insomnia. They also are determined to avoid any actions that remind them of the traumatic event. Another common symptom is a sense of shame, as a result of having survived or not having been able to save others.
Physical symptoms include chest pain, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, migraine, and a weakened immune system. A diagnosis of PTSD can be made when, in accordance with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the patient presents with the characteristic symptoms for more than a month after the event that caused the symptoms occurred.
The NIMH highlights that a diagnosis cannot always be made in a systematic way. In many cases, patients with PTSD are treated for the physical symptoms only, without any consideration for the overall picture.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has created a detailed list of PTSD symptoms. According to the APA, these symptoms usually appear within 3 months of the trauma, even if stress may appear later. Symptoms are arranged into the following three well-defined categories:
- Intrusive memories. People with PTSD suffer from sudden, vivid memories that are accompanied by painful emotions and a feeling of reliving the trauma. At times, this experience is so strong that the person involved feels as though the traumatic event is repeating itself.
- Avoidance and numbing. The individual seeks to avoid contact with anyone or anything that brings back memories of the trauma. Initially, the person experiences an emotional state of disinterest and detachment, reducing the capacity for emotional interaction and resulting in participation only in simple, routine activities. A lack of emotional processing causes an accumulation of anxiety and tension, which can become a chronic condition, leading to depression. At the same time, people frequently experience a sense of shame.
- Hyperarousal and hypervigilance. People behave as if they are constantly threatened. They react in a sudden, violent way, are unable to concentrate, and have problems with their memory. At times, they use alcohol or other drugs to alleviate pain. People with PTSD may lose control of their lives and therefore be at risk for suicidal behavior.