RADIATION & RISK
Bulletin of the National Radiation and Epidemiological Registry
since 1992
About the Journal : 1999 : vol. 11, No. 1 : Psychological status of emergency workers in the period long after completion of emergency operations in the ChNPP zone

Psychological status of emergency workers in the period long after completion of emergency operations in the ChNPP zone

"Radiation and Risk." 1999. Vol. 11, pp.94-100

Authors

Matveeva N.P., Kaplan M.A., Belykhov V.V.1
Medical Radiological Research Center of RAMS, Obninsk
1 Institute of Atomic Power Engineering, Obninsk

Abstract

The results of investigation into the psychological status of 1986-1987 emergency workers (EWs) with somatic diseases in the period long after completion of emergency operations in the ChNPP zone are presented in the article. Comparative analysis is performed of the psychological status of EWs and persons not involved in emergency operations at ChNPP whose professional activity is connected with ionizing radiation. To estimate the psychological status of EWs the multifactor method of personal identification (MMPI) was used as well as Ch.D.Spielberger questionnaire for assessment of the personality level and reactive alert and the Lusher’s test. The analysis of the results showed that the psychological status of EWs in the period long after emergency operations at ChNPP is characterized by the mixed type of reaction, high level of alert, chronic dysadaptation. Psychological status of people not involved in emergency operations at ChNPP but working for a long term under ionizing radiation is characterized as stable. Differences have been revealed in the psychological status of EWs as compared with the control group. Thus long-term psychoemotional stress in EWs leads to transformations in the psychological status.

Key words
Psychological status, condition, liquidators, Chernobyl accident, level of personal and reactive anxiety, Luscher's eight-color test, psychoemotional stress.

References

1. Aleksandrovsky Yu.A., Lobastov O.S., Spivak L.I. Psychogenic under extreme conditions. Moscow: Medicine, 1991. 96 p.

2. Berezin F.B., Miroshnikov MP, Sokolova E.D. Method of multilateral study of personality. Moscow: Folium, 1994. 175 p.

3. Kondrashenko V.T., Sorokina T.T., Korolev V.D. and others. Public health of Belarus. 1991. No. 3. PP. 6-8.

4. International Chernobyl Project. Report of the International Advisory Committee. Moscow, 1991.

5. Nyagu A.I., Loganovsky K.N., Vaschenko E.A. and others. Diagnostic criteria of post-radiation encephalopathy in the remote period. Kiev: Scientific and Production Publ., 1998.

6. Psychological tests. Collection. Moscow, 1995.

7. Sobchik L.N. Methods of psychological diagnosis. Moscow, 1990. Issue. 1. 75 p.

8. Sobchik L.N. Methods of psychological diagnosis. Moscow, 1990. Issue. 2. 87 p.

9. Torubarov F.S., Chinkina O.V. Results of psychological monitoring of persons who suffered acute radiation sickness due to the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Proc. of of the International Conference "Actual and predictable mental health disorders after the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl". Materials , May 24-25, 1995, Kiev. K., 1995. 160 p.

10. Ushakov I.B., Davydov B.I., Soldatov S.K. Man in the sky of Chernobyl. Rostov-on-Don: Rost. University Publ., 1994. 167 p.

11. Jainavaar J.M. After Chernobyl: Study of psychological factors affecting health after a radiation disaster. M., 1996. 189 p.

Full text article (in Russian)