Psychotropic medication use as a marker of psychological distress: Associations with demographic, injury-related, and biochemical factors in war-injured rehabilitation patients.

OBJECTIVE

War-related injuries following the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent Iron Swords War have been associated with substantial psychological distress, often requiring pharmacological support during rehabilitation. This study examined associations between demographic variables, injury characteristics, serum biomarkers, psychotropic medication use, and rehabilitation duration during inpatient postinjury rehabilitation.

METHOD: This retrospective study included 346 patients admitted to rehabilitation at Sheba Medical Center after injuries sustained during the Iron Swords War. Data were extracted from electronic medical records. Analyses included univariate tests, multivariable logistic regression models for psychotropic medication use, and multivariable linear regression for rehabilitation duration.

RESULTS

Overall, 57% of patients received psychotropic medication: 47% hypnotics, 36% antidepressants, and 18% antipsychotics. Hypnotic use was associated with Intensive Care Unit admission, neurological injury, and hearing impairment. Antidepressant use was associated with Intensive Care Unit admission and neurological injury. Antipsychotic use was associated with hearing impairment and older age. Any psychotropic medication use was associated with Intensive Care Unit admission and neurological injury and was inversely associated with functional mobility at admission. Longer rehabilitation duration was independently associated with lower hemoglobin, neurological injury, and reduced mobility at admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychotropic medication use was associated mainly with injury-related and functional variables, whereas rehabilitation duration was associated with lower hemoglobin, neurological injury, and reduced mobility. Early assessment of these factors may help identify patients at increased clinical need during rehabilitation and support timely multidisciplinary intervention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).