Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directions

The intricate relationship between psychiatry and global conflict remains an underexplored yet critical area of study, particularly in the context of a potential Third World War. This literature review delves into the psychological roots of conflict, examining how individual and collective psychopa...

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Main Author: Kirolos Eskandar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria (ABP) 2025-06-01
Series:Debates em Psiquiatria
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistardp.org.br/revista/article/view/1473
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author Kirolos Eskandar
author_facet Kirolos Eskandar
author_sort Kirolos Eskandar
collection DOAJ
description The intricate relationship between psychiatry and global conflict remains an underexplored yet critical area of study, particularly in the context of a potential Third World War. This literature review delves into the psychological roots of conflict, examining how individual and collective psychopathologies contribute to war dynamics and escalation. It highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by mental health professionals in balancing clinical responsibilities with geopolitical influences, including the use of psychiatric knowledge in psychological warfare. The review also explores the mental health implications of prolonged global tensions and technological advancements, such as the rise of cyber-warfare and its psychological impact on populations. Emphasizing the role of psychiatry in fostering peace, this work proposes innovative strategies for leveraging mental health interventions to mitigate conflict and promote resilience in societies facing existential threats. The findings underscore the potential of psychiatry to play a transformative role in preventing and managing the psychological dimensions of future global conflicts.
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publisher Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria (ABP)
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spelling doaj-art-79b1a7e3014d4fd5bf55d8f15219dbf02025-08-20T03:27:11ZengAssociação Brasileira de Psiquiatria (ABP)Debates em Psiquiatria2236-918X2763-90372025-06-011510.25118/2763-9037.2025.v15.1473Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directionsKirolos Eskandar0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0085-3284Physician, Diakonie Klinik Mosbach, Mosbach, Germany The intricate relationship between psychiatry and global conflict remains an underexplored yet critical area of study, particularly in the context of a potential Third World War. This literature review delves into the psychological roots of conflict, examining how individual and collective psychopathologies contribute to war dynamics and escalation. It highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by mental health professionals in balancing clinical responsibilities with geopolitical influences, including the use of psychiatric knowledge in psychological warfare. The review also explores the mental health implications of prolonged global tensions and technological advancements, such as the rise of cyber-warfare and its psychological impact on populations. Emphasizing the role of psychiatry in fostering peace, this work proposes innovative strategies for leveraging mental health interventions to mitigate conflict and promote resilience in societies facing existential threats. The findings underscore the potential of psychiatry to play a transformative role in preventing and managing the psychological dimensions of future global conflicts. https://revistardp.org.br/revista/article/view/1473psychiatry and warpsychological warfareglobal conflict dynamicsmental health in warThird World War psychologyworld war III
spellingShingle Kirolos Eskandar
Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directions
Debates em Psiquiatria
psychiatry and war
psychological warfare
global conflict dynamics
mental health in war
Third World War psychology
world war III
title Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directions
title_full Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directions
title_fullStr Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directions
title_full_unstemmed Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directions
title_short Psychiatry and global conflict: a review of war-related psychological impacts, ethical dilemmas, and future directions
title_sort psychiatry and global conflict a review of war related psychological impacts ethical dilemmas and future directions
topic psychiatry and war
psychological warfare
global conflict dynamics
mental health in war
Third World War psychology
world war III
url https://revistardp.org.br/revista/article/view/1473
work_keys_str_mv AT kiroloseskandar psychiatryandglobalconflictareviewofwarrelatedpsychologicalimpactsethicaldilemmasandfuturedirections