Factors of the psychological status in victims of radiation accidents, which mitigate development of psychosomatic disorders in the long term

Abstract

Relevance. In terms of environmental and social dimensions, the Chernobyl accident is the largest in the history of Russia. Radiation-hazardous incidents also occurred on nuclear submarines. The leading medical consequences of various radiation accidents in the remote period were the presence of psychosomatic pathology among the liquidators of the consequences of accidents. Intention. To determine the leading factors of psychological status among liquidators of the consequences of radiation accidents, which mitigate the development of psychosomatic disorders in the long term. Methodology. In 2019, a comprehensive in-hospital examination of 101 male liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was conducted. The examined persons were (65.2 ± 0.7) years old, the average radiation dose was 18 cSv. All surveyed liquidators had somatic pathology with an important contribution of psychogenic factors (hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, gastric/duodenum ulcer etc.). The psychological status was assessed using well-known tests. As a control, we used the reference indicators of the methods for similar gender and age groups. The information obtained was checked for normality of distribution. Arithmetic mean values and their errors (M ± m) are provided. Using the factor analysis with rotation of the array, the factors of psychological status were established. Results and Discussion. It turned out that the liquidators of the consequences of the accident have lowered indicators reflecting an active life position and quality of life. When the respective accident was mentioned, they showed irritability, a feeling of tension and alertness, which indicated their anxiety-phobic experience even in the remote period after the accident. Interest in life, its emotional saturation, and self-confidence were decreased. At the same time, indicators of manipulative and antisocial actions were lower vs the control group. In the factor analysis of psychological indicators using principal components with rotation, 5 factors were formed with a total variance of 58.6 %. Factors with higher association contained psychological signs that contributed to or mitigated psychosomatic disorders as follows: Factor 1, named as “Active life position”, accounted for 31.3 % of the total variance; Factor 2 “Negative socio-psychological consequences of a radiation accident” - 10.1%; Factor 3 “Quality of life” - 8.1 %; Factor 4 “Non-constructive models of behavior in a difficult life situation” - 4.9 %; Factor 5 “Mental health” - 4.1 %. Conclusion. The factor analysis of the results from liquidators of the radiation accident helped identify the leading positive qualities and maladjustment problems that can be targets for psycho-prophylaxis.