Significant increase in PTSD cases in Ukraine: almost 4-fold increase in 2023 compared to pre-war levels

The number of patients diagnosed with PTSD in Ukraine is increasing - the rate increased in 2023 by almost four times compared to 2021, before the full-scale invasion of Russia. Moreover, in the first two months of 2024 alone, 3,292 new cases were recorded, which is almost as many as in the entire year of 2021. This was reported on Monday by the Ministry of Health, UNN writes.

Details

"Over the past two years, the Electronic Healthcare System (EHS) has recorded a significant increase in patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thus, in 2023, the number of patients with PTSD increased almost fourfold compared to 2021, and in the first two months of 2024, almost the same number of patients were diagnosed as in the whole of 2021," the Ministry of Health said.

According to the NHSU , the figures in  by year are as follows:

• 2021 - 3,167 patients,
• 2022 - 7,051 patients,
• 2023 - 12,494 patients,
• 2024 - 3,292 patients (as of 03/06/2024).

According to the Ministry of Health, PTSD affects people of all genders and ages. Symptoms of the disorder can occur in the short or long term after a traumatic event, usually within the first three months. They can be manifested through hyper-arousal, reliving traumatic events, memory and emotional problems, sleep disturbances, excessive fatigue, irritability, headaches, trying to avoid anything that reminds you of the traumatic event, etc.

According to various estimates, PTSD can develop in 12-20% of people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. 

"It should be understood that PTSD is mostly curable and successfully resolves in most patients. If the first symptoms appear, you should seek help as soon as possible," the Ministry of Health says.

And they note that, for example, you can go to your family doctor or to a family doctor in a medical institution that has an agreement with the NHSU.