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Introduction Military action in Ukraine led to increasing in the number of patients with PTSD among children. Open-label studies demonstrated the efficacy of SSRI’s for the treatment of PTSD, primarily paroxetine. Feasibility of using of these drugs in children and adolescents is controversial [1-2]. Objective To evaluate a short and long-term efficacy and tolerability of fluoxetine in the treatment of PTSD in children. Methods double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week study with a fixed dose of fluoxetine (20-40 mg). The trial design consisted of 1-week, single-blind, placebo run-in period, followed by a 12-week treatment period and a 2-week taper phase. Were randomized 110 children aged from 12 to 18 years (MD = 14,2), that have been moved from the combat zone in the east of Ukraine and met the DSM-5criterias for PTSD. Drug efficacy was assessed weekly using the CAPS-2; CGI-I / CGI-S. Safety assessed: Adverse event (AE) recording, suicidality assessment. Result The reduction in CAPS-2 scales was statistically significant among children randomized to fluoxetine treatment compared with placebo in a week 12 endpoint (treatment difference -11.10; 95% Cl-13.4, -7,38; p <0.001). Significant greater proportion of fluoxetine-treated patient (52%) than placebo-treated (43%) were defined as treatment responders based on CGI scale (adjusted odds ratio = 2.28; 95% Cl 1.75, 2.93; p <0.001). The most common adverse effects in fluoxetine group were somnolence, headache and irritability, each occurring in <20% patients. Conclusion Fluoxetine at a dose of 20-40 mg / day is more effective than placebo, well-tolerated and can be recommended in pediatric practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the long-standing ongoing war in Ukraine, information regarding war-related negative mental health outcomes in children is limited. A nationwide sample of parents in Ukraine was surveyed to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in their children and to identify risk factors associated with child PTSD status., Method: A nationwide opportunistic sample of 1,238 parents reported on a single randomly chosen child within their household as part of The Mental Health of Parents and Children in Ukraine Study. Data were collected approximately 6 months after the war escalation in February 2022. The prevalence of PTSD was estimated using the parent-reported Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS)., Results: Based on parental reports, 17.5% of preschoolers and 12.6% of school-age children met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) criteria for PTSD. Delay in milestone development (AOR = 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.38-4.08]), having a parent affiliated with the emergency services or army (AOR = 2.13, [1.28-3.53]), parental PTSD/complex PTSD status (AOR = 1.88, [1.22-2.89]), and mean changes in parental anxiety (AOR = 1.98, [1.44-2.72]) were among the strongest predictors of increased risk of pediatric PTSD., Conclusion: Russia's war escalation in Ukraine resulted in an increased estimated prevalence of war-related PTSD in children of various ages. Urgent efforts to increase the capacity of national pediatric mental health services are critically needed to mitigate these challenges in an environment of limited financial and human resources. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Background: Very little is known about the mental health of the adult population of Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of seven mental health disorders, the proportion of adults screening positive for any disorder, and the sociodemographic factors associated with meeting requirements for each and any disorder., Methods: A non-probability quota sample ( N  = 2,050) of adults living in Ukraine in September 2023 was collected online. Participants completed self-report questionnaires of the seven mental health disorders. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of the different disorders., Results: Prevalence estimates ranged from 1.5% (cannabis use disorder) to 15.2% (generalized anxiety disorder), and 36.3% screened positive for any of the seven disorders. Females were significantly more likely than males (39.0% vs. 33.8%) to screen positive for any disorder. Disruption to life due to Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, greater financial worries, and having fewer positive childhood experiences were consistent risk factors for different mental health disorders and for any or multiple disorders., Conclusion: Our findings show that approximately one in three adults living in Ukraine report problems consistent with meeting diagnostic requirements for a mental health disorder 18 months after Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine's mental healthcare system has been severely compromised by the loss of infrastructure and human capital due to the war. These findings may help to identify those most vulnerable so that limited resources can be used most effectively.