Peculiarities of psychological trauma in police officers-combatants with different combat experience and their psychological rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE

Aim: The aim is to investigate the peculiarities of psychological trauma manifestation in police officers-combatants with different combat experience and to substantiate recommendations for their psychological rehabilitation based on the Gestalt approach.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Materials and

Methods

The research, conducted in 2023-2024, involved 69 male police officers-combatants with different combat experience: up to 1 year (Group A, n = 33) and more than 1 year (Group B, n = 36). Research methods: analysis and generalization, psycho-diagnostic, mathematical statistics.

RESULTS

Results

It has been found that armed conflict participants with more combat experience had more pronounced symptoms of PTSD; the difference between the indicators of Groups A and B is significant (p ≤ 0.05). It has been found that the dominant type of response to a traumatic event in both groups of combatants is the protective mechanism of physiological arousal (63.6 % in Group A and 66.7 % in Group B). Practical recommendations for the psychological rehabilitation of combatants who suffered psychological trauma using Gestalt therapy have been proposed.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions

It has been found that the Gestalt approach allows solving the following tasks of working with psychological trauma: to help combatants realize and respond to traumatic experiences, to overcome existing traumas, to increase the adequacy of self-perception and self-esteem, to reduce anxiety, tension, emotional instability, and self-doubt in difficult life situations.