PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LONG TERM EXPOSURE AND RADIATION

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LONG TERM EXPOSURE AND RADIATION INJURY Module XX

Syllabus l l l l Module Medical XX Introduction Medical consequences of radiation accidents Psychological consequences of radiation accidents What is psychological stress caused by the accident? What can we do about stress? Management of psychological effects Summary 2

Introduction l l Importance of psychological impact of radiation accidents underestimated in past Psychosocial effects may far outnumber any direct health effects Reactions to nuclear and radiological accidents similar Role of scientific community, and physicians in particular, in influencing public perception of risk and addressing psychological consequences of accidents Module Medical XX 3

Medical consequences of radiation accidents l Health effects directly related to radiation exposure n n l Health effects indirectly related to radiation exposure n n Module Medical XX Deterministic Stochastic Caused by accident Caused by intervention 4

Health effects directly related to radiation exposure l Not related to awareness of exposure or to subjective perception of risk l Can be prevented or reduced by protective action minimizing public exposure Module Medical XX 5

Health effects indirectly related to radiation exposure Can far outnumber any direct effects l Need to be taken into account l Can affect hundreds of thousands l Can last for many years l Do not correlate well with actual exposure but with subjective perception of risk l Protective action to reduce exposure may be counterproductive with regard to such effects l Module Medical XX 6

Why do people fear ionizing radiation? l l l l Unknown threat Can not be seen or felt Conflicting information in mass media Contradictory data from different “scientists” Use of “radiation theme” in economic and political discussions Long term consequences of radiation exposure Lack of education of general public, physicians and other professionals Social understanding of any situation Module Medical XX 7

Psychological effects l Psychological effects include Mental suffering n Changes in risk perception n Modification in individual and social behaviour n Module Medical XX 8

Psychological effects l Major accidents (Chernobyl, TMI, Goiânia) show that affected people believe health threatened n doubt reports about accident and resulting radiation doses n get life style modified n have somatic complains n abuse drugs (alcohol, tranquilizers, sleeping pills) n Module Medical XX 9

Severity of psychological reactions l Depends on n factors related to accident: u abruptness, intensity, duration, availability of social support, etc. n factors related to individual: u experience, personal loss, perception of threat, personal coping ability, etc. Module Medical XX 10

What is psychological stress caused by accident? l Normal reaction to abnormal event l Unusually strong psychological and emotional reactions which could interfere with ability to function during or after accident l Can become post traumatic stress disorder Module Medical XX 11

What is psychological stress caused by accident? l New diagnostic entity “chronic environmental stress disorder” proposed l Principal characteristics: n Module Medical XX apathy, asthenia, diminished interest and “learned helplessness” 12

Changes in health behaviour of affected people l Extensive medical examinations (active screening) increase anxiety about current and future effects l Change in illness behaviour and greater diagnostic capability together with vast screening programmes increase disease diagnoses in most organs and systems Module Medical XX 13

Stress reactions Physical l Early n n n n Module Medical XX Nausea Muscle tremors Sweating Dizziness Chills Increased heart rate Increased blood pressure Hyperventilation l Late n n Fatigue Increased use of alcohol and drugs Exaggerated startle response Sleep - related difficulties 14

Stress reactions Cognitive l Early n n n n Confusion Difficulty in making decisions Impaired thinking Difficulty problem solving Memory loss Calculation difficulties Difficulty remembering names Module Medical XX l Delayed n n Decreased attention span Poor concentration Memory problems Flashbacks 15

Stress reactions Emotional l Early n n n n Module Medical XX Anxiety Anger Fear Irritability Guilt Feeling overwhelmed Grief Hopelessness l Delayed n n n Feeling abandoned Resentment Feeling alienation Withdrawal Numbness Depression 16

Psychological problems Late l Continuation of some early problems l Discrimination by other people l Establishment of illness behaviour l Concern about consequences of exposure Module Medical XX 17

Psychological effects of relocation Relocation dubious l Negative impact on mental well being l If aimed to reduce risk of stochastic effects: l Consider only future avoidable dose n Dose already achieved cannot be reduced n Involuntarily relocated people suffer most l Elderly people especially likely to suffer l Module Medical XX 18

What can we do about stress? Accidents can not be predicted BUT l Psychological reaction to radiation accident could be l prevented / mitigated using different methods applied before / during / after accident Module Medical XX 19

Management of psychological consequences after accident l Response to reduce psychological consequences Medical response n Public health follow-up n Social assistance n Government action guidelines n Community accountability n Module Medical XX 20

How to reduce psychological effects Have ongoing information programme l Give clear, simple and timely advice l Provide consistent advice and assessment (one official point) l Use international guidance l Ensure protective action justified l Correct false information l Consider education and counselling l Module Medical XX 21

Warning population Timely warning one of most important psychological aspects of dealing with accidents l Provide people with sense of control over situation l Call for active attitude: l Searching process n Preparation for protective action n Module Medical XX 22

Requirements for warning message Consistent l Accurate, timely and complete l Clear l Simple l Sufficient l Concrete l Provided through multiply channels l Frequently repeated l Module Medical XX 23

Psychological support in different types of accidents Accident Psychological support is needed for: Affected victims Yes General public Yes Emergency responders Yes Criticality Yes Yes Involving lost/stolen sources Yes Not always Transportation Yes Not always Yes, if any Yes Not always Laboratory accidents Yes No No Result of use/misuse of industrial sources Medical misadministration in diagnosis and therapy Yes No No Nuclear (reactor) Nuclear power satellite re-entry Module Medical XX 24

Psychological stress of injured individuals l Patient needs n n n n Module Medical XX Comfort, relief of symptoms Stability and authoritative support Information Concern Hope Control Stimulation l Patient problems n n n Overly scientific approach Repeated tests, examinations Photographs Reactions of others Too many “experts” Too much media attention 25

Medical staff problems Fear / anxiety l Isolation by others l Lack of knowledge (medical treatment, long term effects, etc. ) l New experience: l Interactions with “experts, ” public officials, reporters, etc. n Loss of autonomy (activities may be monitored/managed by authorities) n Module Medical XX 26

Mitigation of psychological consequences l One of the functional requirements l Applicable for all planning categories l Should be performed by facility, local or national level of response n Module Medical XX Depending on planning category 27

Mitigation of psychological consequences l Establish written process for justifying, optimizing and authorizing different intervention or action levels following event for longer term protective action n Module Medical XX Consider effects on mental health, economic conditions, employment, long term needs for social welfare and other non-radiological impact caused by taking longer term protective action 28

Mitigation of psychological consequences l Establish capability for addressing public concerns and reactions during actual or perceived nuclear or radiological emergency Module Medical XX 29

Mitigation of psychological consequences l Ensure that affected people perceive, understand, believe, personalize, and respond to warning Module Medical XX 30

Mitigation of psychological consequences l Before long term monitoring or other activities are conducted in areas designed for unrestricted use after accident, ensure public understand reasons for these continuing activities (e. g. scientific investigations of behaviour of radioisotopes in environment) Module Medical XX 31

Mitigation of psychological consequences l Establish process to develop system of compensation for emergency workers and public following emergency after careful consideration of benefits and long term social, psychological and economic effects Module Medical XX 32

Summary Psychological effects – more important in current situation l What is stress caused by accident? l What can we do about stress? l Management of psychological effects l Psychological support in different types of accidents l Mitigation of psychological consequences l Module Medical XX 33