Clinical and Psychological Mechanisms of Mental Trauma in Modern Armed Conflicts

Background: the psychotraumatic environment of contemporary armed conflicts is qualitatively different from the wars of the past. Factors characteristic of modern warfare form a unique permanent stressor, requiring a revision of classical clinical-psychological models based on the experience of local wars with alternating phases of “combat and respite.” The aim of review was a clinical-psychological analysis of five key factors of modern warfare and their complex impact on the mental functioning and behavior of military personnel, in order to develop more accurate diagnostic approaches and targeted psychological support plans. Materials and Methods: to achieve this aim, a scoping review of peer-reviewed scientific literature from 2010–2025 was conducted, along with an analysis of relevant publications and subject-specific literature. The search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and eLIBRARY.ru databases. The inclusion criteria were relevance to the five identified factors of modern warfare: distributed danger and the absence of a safe rear; constant high intensity of threats; cultural proximity of the adversary and the associated emotional complexity; the “showcase effect” and loss of privacy due to total surveillance; and the extreme duration of participation in combat operations. Conclusion: based on the analysis, an integrative model was formed, describing modern warfare as a permanent stressor. the study introduces the Permanent Traumatic Load Model (PTL-Model), which conceptualizes modern warfare as a continuous, multi-component stressor. The model highlights the cumulative impact of sensory, cognitive, and social stress factors that produce persistent regulatory disruptions and distinct clinical-psychological outcomes. Priorities for assistance were identified: a “stabilization-first” approach focusing on restoring sleep and reducing hyperarousal; routine assessment and addressing of moral injury; work on the loss of privacy and restoration of personal boundaries; accounting for the cumulative duration of exposure; and the inclusion of family-oriented support in the readaptation pathway.

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