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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

The use of drones as weapons in Gaza, Ukraine, and worldwide: what is the impact on communities’ mental health?

The use of drones as weapons in gaza, ukraine and globally . what is their impact on the mental health of populations?

Continuous exposure to drones causes chronic psychological distress in civilians, particularly children, by creating a state of ongoing threat and surveillance rather than a time-limited trauma.

The aim of the presentation was to review the distinct mental health consequences of the use of drones in warfare, which has become increasingly widespread since 2020 in countries and territories such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Gaza, Ukraine, Somalia, Libya, Armenia, Syria, Colombia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The methodology involved a literature search in PubMed and with artificial intelligence assistance, using the search terms “drones and mental health” and “drones and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” A total of 58 sources were identified; the earliest sources, dating from 2014 onward, concerned PTSD and drone operators, while scientific publications on civilians and mental health began to appear in 2024. Continuous exposure has significant and lasting psychological consequences for civilian populations, particularly children; unlike conventional attacks, drones create conditions of ongoing threat and surveillance, leading to chronic psychological distress rather than time-limited trauma. Studies report anxiety, fear, and PTSD in adults living under drones; the unpredictability of attacks and the constant sound of drones contribute to hyperarousal, sleep disturbances, social withdrawal, and avoidance of daily activities, including community gatherings. Children may experience PTSD symptoms, nightmares, emotional dysregulation, behavioral regression, anxiety, and difficulty sustaining attention; fear restricts outdoor play, school attendance, and social interaction, caregivers may struggle to provide emotional containment for children, and communities experience an erosion of social cohesion and disruption of daily routines. In conclusion, drone warfare is associated with widespread psychological harm and long-term developmental risks in civilians and children, not only through direct violence but also through persistent fear, uncertainty, and the loss of a sense of safety.

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