Comparison of indicators of mental disorders among army conscripts and 18–19 year old men in the Republic of Belarus in 2003–2015

Relevance. The mental health status of military personnel is an important factor in the combat readiness and combativity of the armies of the countries of the world. Intention. Analysis of the mental disorders among army conscripts and 18–19 year old men in Republic of Belarus in 2003–2015.

Methodology. We studied the indicators of the general and primary morbidity of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus based on 3/MED reports from military units, where about 80% of the total number of conscripts served. The indicators of mental disorders in the population of Belarus are obtained from «1-psychiatry» and «1-narcology» state statistical forms (Ministry of Health). The incidence rate was determined per 1000 people.

The indicators of mental health disorders were classified according to the groups (blocks) of Class V «Mental and behavioral disorders» of the International Classification of Diseases and Behavioral Disorders, 10th revision (ICD-10).

Results and Discussion. The conducted medical and statistical studies showed that average annual levels of the general and primary morbidity among the conscripts with mental disorders in the Armed Forces in 2003–2015 were statistically significantly lower compared to 18–19 year old civilians in the Republic of Belarus. The overall incidence rates of mental disorders were (34.05 ± 1.05) and (111.98 ± 4.58)‰ (p < 0.001), the primary incidence rates were (17.26 ± 1.02) and (28.51 ± 1.26)‰, respectively (p < 0.001). Polynomial trends in the general and primary morbidity among military conscripts with mental disorders with different determination coefficients showed a decrease and among 18–19 year old men – an increase. In the structure of the studied medical and statistical types of mental morbidity among military conscripts from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (group 5, F40–F48 according to ICD-10) and personality and behavior disorders in adulthood (7th group, F60–F69) were most common. Their total contributions were 85.4 and 78.5%, respectively, for the structure of the general incidence rate and the primary incidence rate. In military conscripts in 2003–2015, there was a decrease in the level and percentage of neurotic, associated with stress, and somatoform disorders in the overall structure of incidence of mental disorders. In the structure of the analyzed medical and statistical types of mental disorders among 18–19 year old men in the Republic of Belarus, mental and behavior disorders associated with the use of psychoactive substances (2nd group, F10–F19) and mental retardation (8th group, F70–F79) were most common. Their total contributions to the structure of the overall and primary incidence were 69.7 and 74.9%, respectively. Unfortunately, these mental disorders among 18–19 year old men in the Republic of Belarus in 2003–2015 tended to increase.

Conclusion. The existing system of military medical examination of draftees, professional selection, along with distribution of personnel according to military registration specialties based on personal characteristics, professional preparedness and functional reserves of the organism, as well as medical support in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus help to optimize the military professional adaptation of military conscripts and psycho-prevention of mental disorders.

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