Psychologists: Ukrainians' alarm reactions in wartime are not necessarily PTSD
American and Ukrainian specialists who treat war trauma criticise how a study on PTSD prevalence in Ukraine was presented in headlines. They argue a normal response to a real, ongoing threat should not automatically be labelled an illness.
In late September, media around the world reported that nearly one in three Ukrainian civilians has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD. The figure comes from a study by British and Ukrainian researchers published in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology. Specialists who treat war trauma in soldiers and civilians in Ukraine and the United States have now published an opinion piece disputing how that number was presented. In their view, the risk lies both in turning normal reactions into diagnoses and in underestimating what war does to people.
What the study found
In May 2024, researchers phoned more than 2,500 adults. By their count, 25% showed signs of probable PTSD and a further 6% probable complex PTSD. More than 70% of respondents had experienced shelling near their homes, half have a loved one at the front, and a third were forced to leave home.
Why the figure is contested
The authors of the opinion piece note that PTSD describes what happens after danger has passed, while in Ukraine the threat continues: drones and missiles reach cities hundreds of miles from the front line. In such conditions, light sleep or being constantly on guard can be an accurate response to a real threat. This is known as continuous traumatic stress, first described in places where danger never went away, such as the Israeli town of Sderot. The study's own authors acknowledge that a tool designed for life after trauma may overcount PTSD among people still in danger. Questionnaires also cast a wide net, so they usually find more cases than clinical assessment confirms.
Help and exhaustion
The share of complex PTSD is lower than in some earlier studies; the authors link this to a strong sense of national identity and mutual support. Stigma around seeing a psychologist remains in Ukraine, and specialists are scarce: according to the WHO Mental Health Atlas, there are about 34 mental health workers per 100,000 people, against a European median of 53. Slow breathing, treatment for insomnia, physical activity and short group programmes can help, while persistent symptoms may need structured psychotherapy. A diagnosis is not required to seek help.
