Indicators of mental disorders among military personnel of the Russian Ministry of Defense serving under contract (2009–2021)

   Introduction. The professional activity of military personnel serving under contract is considered extreme, often associated with excessive emotional stress, which increases the risk of developing mental disorders.

   The intention is to assess the dynamics of mental disorder development among military personnel serving under contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense over a 13-year period from 2009 to 2021.

   Methodology. The research subject consisted of the primary morbidity rates among military personnel of the Russian Ministry of Defense serving under contract (officers, warrant officers, sergeants major, sergeants, and privates). Data from open annual statistical compilations “Indicators of the Health Status of Military Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as the Activities of Military Medical Units, Parts, and Organizations” were used. The indicators of mental disorders among military personnel were assessed per 10,000 people (×10−4). Nosologies were correlated with V Chapter Mental and behavioural disorders International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10^th Revision (ICD-10). The average annual levels are indicated in the form of mean arithmetic indicators and their errors (M ± m).

   Results and analysis. The level of primary morbidity due to mental disorders among contract military personnel was (25.93 ± 1.12) ∙ 10−4 with a share of 0.5 % of the total primary morbidity across 19 classes of diseases according to ICD-10. Generally, a trend of decreasing morbidity across all nosological groups was noted. The level of primary morbidity due to mental disorders among contract military personnel in 2011–2021 was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that of the adult working-age population. The first rank of significance for mental disorders was composed
of indicators of neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders with a level of (15.74 ± 0.80) ∙ 10−4 and a share of 60.8% of the structure, the second rank – mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use – (4.35 ± 0.60) ∙ 10−4 and 16.8%, the third rank – organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders – (1.56 ± 0.37) ∙ 10−4 and 6.0 % respectively. The cumulative specific weight of cases for the aforementioned reasons of primary morbidity due to mental disorders among contract military personnel amounted to 83.6 %.

   Conclusion. The implementation of targeted, based on the prevailing mental disorders, and differentiated (taking into account the category of military personnel) psychoprophylactic measures not only allows for the preservation of the mental health of military personnel serving under contract in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation but also extends their professional longevity.

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