Background. Clinical psychology is one of the main branches of psychology that specializes in studying and treating various mental disorders and issues, preventivemeasures for mental illnesses, diagnosis of diseases and pathological conditions, as well as the influence of psychocorrective methods on the recovery process [1–3]. Within the framework of clinical psychology, various mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorders, and others are considered and treated.
Purpose – to evaluate the role of clinical psychology in the military environment, clarify and emphasize the ethical aspects faced by clinical psychologists in the military sphere.
Materials and Methods. An analytical literature review was conducted, and based on the obtained data, a training course was developed for psychologists and practical psychologists of healthcare institutions with over 5 years of experience in the healthcare system, who were transferred to the position of «Clinical Psychologist», allowing to investigate the effectiveness of training and the necessity of this specialization, to examine the level of assistance provided to different samples worked with by practical psychologists in hospitals (military personnel, internally displaced persons), and the level of effectiveness of providing different levels of psychological assistance after specialization and implementation of the protocols developed by us. A random sampling method was used for the survey of the subjects. Research methods: systemic analysis, questionnaire survey, statistical analysis.
Results. It has been established that clinical psychologists often encounter ethical dilemmas arising from their dual identity as psychologists and military personnel, as well as from the unique context and mission of military service. This article provides a summary of unique aspects of clinical practice in the military sphere with a particular emphasis on those elements that exacerbate ethical challenges. Prior to providing psychological assistance and after the war-related trauma in Ukraine, psychologists conducted research on the levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among servicemen and veterans. The basic survey consisted of 21 questions assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress levels among servicemen and veterans. Various levels of depression were observed in 78.11 ± 2.58% of servicemen and veterans, while mild, moderate, and severe levels of stress were found in 84.07 ± 2.59% of individuals, and various levels of anxiety were present in 88.1 ± 2.48% of cases. After rehabilitation, the level of depression decreased by 24.21%, the level of stress by 25.07%, and the level of anxiety by 28.52%.
Conclusions. The obtained results justify the need to improve approaches to the training and retraining of psychologists and practical psychologists working in healthcare institutions with more than 5 years of experience in the healthcare system, who are transferred to the position of «Clinical Psychologist».
