The Filatov Institute in Odesa has received a grant to develop early diagnosis of stress-associated psychological changes

The V.P. Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (Odesa) has received a grant from the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. V.P. Filatov of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (Odesa) has received a grant from the National Research Foundation of Ukraine for research into ophthalmological biological markers and the development of an objective method for the early diagnosis of adverse stress-associated psychological changes in a person's condition.

As the institute told the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the study will make it possible to carry out early diagnosis of participants in any crisis situations, both global ones (such as war, man-made or natural disasters, a pandemic, etc.) and local ones (road accidents, domestic violence, terrorist attacks, etc.).

It is noted that scientists of the Filatov Institute have already conducted a number of studies on the instrumental determination of signs of stress-associated disorders based on ophthalmological markers: the analysis of eye-movement data and changes in pupil parameters.

“Further research, combined with the creation of clear and easy-to-use software for the rapid processing of the data obtained, should become the basis of a method that will ensure the objectivity of the studies and the ability to determine the risk of developing stress-related disorders in the presence of symptoms insufficient for a clinical diagnosis,” the institute commented.

In addition, the short time required for the examination and data processing will make it suitable for use in mass diagnostic activities (screening), the statement specifies.

According to the Ministry of Health, after the end of the war more than 15 million Ukrainians will need psychological support. Those who directly took part in combat suffer the most from psychological trauma. The number of people affected, for example, by war syndromes is from 35% to 70% of all participants in military operations, regardless of whether they were in the combat zone or not.

The V.P. Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine was founded in 1936. It is a leading scientific and medical institution and the national center for scientific research in the field of ophthalmology.