Psychological Assistance and Self-Help for Individuals in War-Related Psychotraumatic Situations: A Digital Tool for Neurorehabilitation

Abstract

This narrative review presents a comprehensive theoretical and methodological analysis of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the formation of stress and depressive states under conditions of military conflict. It aims to conceptualise a multimodal model of neurorehabilitation and to substantiate neurorehabilitation as a systemic approach to psychological support and self-help. The proposed framework integrates biochemical and structural approaches to optimising brain function with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and emerging (currently experimental) tools from digital psychiatry and AI-assisted mental healthcare. The review is based on a synthesis of contemporary evidence from neurobiology, cognitive behavioural therapy, neuroplasticity research, and machine learning. It clearly distinguishes between clinically validated interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy and aerobic exercise) and emerging or hypothetical approaches, such as AI-assisted detection of putative neurobiological imbalances and automated prediction of depression risk. A systems approach was applied to analyse the interaction of neurotransmitter systems (GABA, glutamate, serotonin, dopamine) and structural components of the brain (amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex) under conditions of extreme wartime stress, and to identify the role of AI in the personalisation of neurorehabilitation protocols, monitoring emotional states through natural language analysis, and creating adaptive environments for cognitive correction. The article systematises neurorehabilitation methods distributed according to levels of influence: physiological (breathing practices, nutritional support), cognitive (narrative therapy, modification of mental attitudes), and behavioural (activation of the left hemisphere through motor activity). It is demonstrated that the integration of these methods makes it possible to use neuroplasticity for the “dismantling” of traumatic neural circuits through digital AI tools, the authors argue that successful rehabilitation in wartime situations is possible only with a transition from passive experiencing/living through trauma to active “reprogramming” of the brain. The material proposes a holistic conceptual model of self-help in which a person acts as an active subject of neurobiological change, the conclusions of the article have practical significance for psychotherapists, volunteers, and individuals experiencing chronic stress, providing them with scientifically grounded tools for maintaining mental health.