Relevance. Necessity for enhancement of therapeutic approaches to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using a modern high-tech biofeedback.Intention. Scientific foundation for using biofeedback training in complex therapy of PTSD in combatants.Methodology. Military men, 40 healthy and 36 PTSD, aged 33.2 and 34.8 years, respectively (p > 0.05) were examined. Neurology signs were estimated with “Neurotic disorders-questionnaire-symptomatic”, quality of life – with “Quality of life questionnaire-12”, PTSD signs – with “Mississippi scale”. Stress-testing and biofeedback training were carried out using “Reacor” biofeedback psychophysiological hardware.Results and Discussion. Inverse correlations were revealed between PTSD signs and systolic wave amplitudes (SWA) from digital photoplethysmogram during stress-testing with biofeedback psychophysiological hardware. Heart rate variability and breathing recursion used in foreign studies as biofeedback training parameters for this disorder treatment didn’t correlate with signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. The effectiveness of SWA biofeedback training for PTSD complex treatment in combatants was proved. Everyday trainings during 8–10 days statistically significantly reduced neurotic manifestations and improved self-rating of life quality regarding “mental health”.Conclusion. SWA is a prognostic marker within health – illness continuum and can be used as a sensitive physiological parameter in the biofeedback trainings for overcoming PTSD. Conscious involvement of combatants into a treatment process via inclusion of SWA biofeedback trainings in PTSD complex treatment improves the results and self-ratings of life quality.

Features of adaptation after psychical traumatic stress in healthy military men who performed special tasks more than half a year ago were studied. It is shown that 40% of combatants have signs of partial posttraumatic stress disorder, which evidences about negative adaptation after psychical traumatic stress. Signs of partial posttraumatic stress disorder in all manifest as neurotic disorders, and in 7,5% of combatants are associated with signs of psychotic disorders. Among the signs of neurotic disorders, the manifestations of somato-vegetative disorder were encountered in 62,5%, affective tension - in 50%, sleep disorder - in 43,8% and anxiety-phobic disorder - in 43,8%. Among the signs of psychotic disorders, there were mildly pronounced manifestations of social phobia, panic disorder and depression. Soldiers with partial posttraumatic stress disorder have a statistically significant decrease in the self-assessment quality of life in such indicators as «general health», «mental health» and «social functioning». The negative correlation between scores of life quality and signs of partial posttraumatic stress disorder pieces of evidence that namely this disorder impacts on the quality of life in combatants. Comparison of servicemen groups with and without signs of partial posttraumatic stress disorder according to the expert evaluation indicators, exhibited by the unit commanders, and according to the indicators of the operator working, did not reveal a significant difference between them. Thus signs of partial posttraumatic stress disorder in combatants decrease self-assessment life quality but do not have an effect on the professional aspect of social functioning under favourable conditions. This military personnel are needed in medical and psychological correction and rehabilitation to prevent the development of maladaptation in stressful conditions.