Citation

Psychiatry TL. Lancet Psychiatry 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S2215-0366(22)00118-3

PMID

35390326

Abstract

Politicians and military leaders might be able to think in terms of gains and victories, but for the civilians, and many of the ordinary soldiers, involved, there are only losses: loss of home, family, friends, employment, education, as well as intangibles such as hope and trust. The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, with the subsequent destruction of many towns and the displacement of millions of people, has caught the attention of the world. The psychiatry community is aware that their services will be needed, both now and in the future, and is starting to provide practical assistance.

Indications of the scale of the support that will be needed come from studies of the 1·8 million Ukrainians who were displaced internally after the previous Russian attacks in 2014. In one survey, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was 32%, of depression was 22%, and of anxiety 18%. One group who are prominent in this conflict and who might need particular care are the civilian combatants, as highlighted by Richard Bryant and colleagues. Others, as noted by Michael Liebrenz and colleagues, include prisoners of war and people living in detention. There are also the Ukrainian citizens who have been moved to Russia, about whose situation little is known. Irina Pinchuk and Semen Gluzman of the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association have called for the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) to suspend the Russian Association. Some universities and associations have ceased collaboration with Russia: others are continuing in the knowledge that many...

Language: en