Medical students showed significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to law enforcement university cadets during active military aggression in Ukraine, with a close correlation between depression and anxiety indicators in both groups.
Key Findings
Results
Medical students had significantly higher average depression scores than law enforcement cadets during wartime conditions.
Mean MADRS score for medical students was 9.72±1.40 compared to 5.07±1.14 for cadets
Difference was statistically significant at p<0.05
No significant difference was found between the two groups in the distribution of students across individual MADRS depression level categories
Study included students from Kharkiv and Odessa, cities under constant attacks since February 2022
Results
Medical students demonstrated significantly higher levels of anxiety than law enforcement cadets as measured by the GAD-7 scale.
Mean GAD-7 score was 7.02±0.73 for medical students versus 5.29±0.69 for law enforcement cadets (p<0.05)
High anxiety was found in 8.33% of medical students compared to only 3.43% of cadets (p<0.05)
Minimal anxiety was reported in only 40.00% of medical students versus 50.86% of cadets
Moderate-to-high anxiety levels were present in 60.00% of medical students and 49.14% of law enforcement cadets (p<0.05)
Results
There was a close correlation between depression and anxiety indicators in both student groups, with the correlation being stronger in medical students.
Correlation coefficient between depression and anxiety was r=0.71 for medical students
Correlation coefficient was r=0.54 for law enforcement cadets
Both correlations were estimated after the psychological assessments in both groups
Results
Participation in physical, social, or scientific activities for more than 5 hours per week had a positive effect on both depression and anxiety levels in both groups.
The positive effect was described as characterized by a 'feedback loop' for both depression and anxiety levels
The finding applied to both medical students and law enforcement cadets
The threshold identified was more than 5 hours per week of engagement in such activities
Methods
The period of active military conflict in Ukraine was associated with deterioration of psychological state in both medical students and law enforcement university cadets.
Participants were from Kharkiv and Odessa, cities experiencing constant attacks from February 2022
Assessment tools used included the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the GAD-7 scale for generalized anxiety disorder
A clinical and anamnestic method was employed, and all students were referred by a team of psychologists
Students were divided into two groups based on educational profile
Conclusions
The authors recommend that psychological support, medical and psychological assistance, and information dissemination should be incorporated into organizational algorithms for future humanitarian, environmental, or technogenic crises.
Recommendation was based on findings from both student groups during wartime conditions
Authors specifically highlighted the importance of ensuring provision of medical and psychological assistance
The recommendation addressed preparation for possible future crisis scenarios beyond military conflict
What This Means
This research examined the mental health of two groups of Ukrainian university students — medical students and law enforcement cadets — from cities (Kharkiv and Odessa) that have been under repeated attack since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. Researchers assessed depression using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and anxiety using the GAD-7 questionnaire. They found that both groups showed signs of psychological strain, but medical students consistently had higher levels of both depression and anxiety compared to law enforcement cadets. For example, 60% of medical students showed moderate-to-high anxiety, compared to about 49% of cadets, and medical students scored notably higher on depression measures as well.
The study also found that depression and anxiety tended to go hand-in-hand in both groups, particularly among medical students, where the two were more strongly linked. Importantly, students and cadets who engaged in physical, social, or scientific activities for more than 5 hours per week showed better mental health outcomes, suggesting that structured activity may serve as a buffer against psychological distress during crisis periods.
This research suggests that living and studying in a war-affected region takes a measurable toll on young people's mental health, and that those in medical training may be especially vulnerable — possibly due to greater exposure to trauma-related information or different coping structures compared to those in military-style training. The findings point to the importance of building psychological support systems into educational institutions during crises, and highlight that encouraging regular engagement in activities outside of academic work may help protect student wellbeing.
Babchuk O, Gulbs O, Lantukh I, Kobets O, Ponomarenko V, Lytvynova I, et al.. (2026). PECULIARITIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIVERSITY CADETS.. Georgian medical news. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41804156/