FEATURES AND PSYCHOCORRECTION OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OPERATORS

Abstract

With the development of technology, the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) has taken a significant place on the battlefield. They may not guarantee immediate territorial gains, but they can significantly influence the ideological and political orientation of the enemy at a cost that is much lower than in conventional warfare. UAVs began to be used by US military personnel to participate in combat operations from remote locations and have become an integral part of the conduct of combat by the Ukrainian military. Operations using UAVs involve remote destruction, which can lead to significant emotional reactions. This study fills a gap in research by examining the relationship between psychological health and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UAV operators. Although there is currently little research evidence to support this claim, concerns have been raised about possible traumatic stressors inherent in the roles of UAV operators. Factors such as exposure to visually traumatic events, exacerbated by long working hours and blurred boundaries between military and civilian life, have been identified as potential stressors. A non-systematic review of the literature on this issue found that UAV operators are more likely to suffer from emotional detachment, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional exhaustion and burnout, which is due to a number of factors, including the combination of relative physical safety with psychological involvement in destroying the enemy and information overload. The main causes of PTSD in this category of servicemen, approaches to their detection and the main directions of psychocorrectional work with them have been identified.