Neuroimmune mechanisms underlying the development of clinico-electroencephalographic phenotypes of PTSD in veterans of the special military operation

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DOI: 10.22138/2500-0918-2026-23-3-458-466

S.L. Pashnin1, E.V. Davydova1,2, V.A. Chereshnev3, D.Sh. Altman1

1Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation;
2South Ural State Medical University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation;
3Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation

Abstract

The development of allostatic reactions in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is closely linked to systemic neuroimmune dysfunction and profound disorganization of cortical-subcortical relationships. Objective. To investigate the neuroimmune mechanisms underlying the development of clinico-electroencephalographic phenotypes of PTSD in veterans of the special military operation (SMO). Materials and Methods. A comprehensive examination of 125 men was conducted at the Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Therapeutic Hospital of War Veterans. The participants were divided into three groups: the main group (SMO group, n=54) comprised SMO veterans with verified PTSD (ICD-10: F43.1, ICD-11: 6B40); the comparison group (2CWC group, n=40) included trauma-exposed veterans of the Second Chechen War without clinical signs of PTSD; the control group (n=20) consisted of healthy males with no combat experience. Assessment methods included the Structured Clinical Diagnostic Interview (SCID, Module I), the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), digital electroencephalography (EEG), and multiplex analysis of serum cytokine profiles (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1, MIP-1β, TNF) using a Luminex MAGPIX 100 analyzer. Statistical processing was performed via Statistica 10.0 and SPSS 26.0 using the Mann-Whitney U test (p<0.05). Results. The emotional profile of SMO veterans was dominated by persistent generalized anxiety (79.0%), severe internal tension (86.9%), and dysthymic/dysphoric manifestations (79.3%), significantly (p<0.05) higher than in the 2CWC group (24.0%, 32.0%, and 12.0% respectively). Three pathognomonic types of brain bioelectrical activity were identified: synchronized (43.6%), low-amplitude (35.1%), and disorganized (17.0%). These patterns were tightly linked to a pronounced systemic pro-inflammatory shift, characterized by elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, IL-8, and MCP-1 against a significant drop in the anti-inflammatory protector IL-10. Conclusion. PTSD in SMO veterans represents a systemic neuroimmune disorder. The trajectory of the cytokine imbalance determines the nature of blood-brain barrier damage and cortical neurodynamics, thereby shaping the specific clinico-electroencephalographic phenotype of the disease.

Keywords: PTSD, SMO veterans, electroencephalography, cytokines, neuroinflammation, allostatic load

There is no conflict of interest.

Contact information of the author responsible for correspondence

Evgeniya V. Davydova
davidova-ev.med@yandex.ru
Received: 30.06.2026

For citation

Pashnin S.L., Davydova E.V., Chereshnev V.A., Altman D.Sh. Neuroimmune mechanisms underlying the development of clinico-electroencephalographic phenotypes of PTSD in veterans of the special military operation. Vestn. Ural. Med. Akad. Nauki. = Journal of Ural Medical Academic Science. 2026, Vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 458-466. DOI: 10.22138/2500-0918-2026-23-3-458-466 (In Russ)

Funding

This work was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy No. 122020900136-4.

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Authors

Sergey L. Pashnin
Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital
Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Head of the Neurosurgery Department
spashninnmd@mail.ru
Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation

Evgeniya V. Davydova
Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital;
South-Ural State Medical University
 Dr. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Early Medical Rehabilitation, Professor of the Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine
davidova-ev.med@yandex.ru
Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation

Valery A. Chereshnev
Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Scientific Director of the Institute
 v.chereshnev@iip.uran.ru
Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation

David Sh. Altman
Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital
Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Chief Physician
altman.dmitrij@gmail.com
Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation

 
 
 
 

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