*Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Department of Psychiatry, Putnam Hall-South Campus, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8790.
Health Phys. 2014 Feb;106(2):206-10. doi: 10.1097/HP.0000000000000012.
The emotional consequences of nuclear power plant disasters include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and medically unexplained somatic symptoms. These effects are often long term and associated with fears about developing cancer. Research on disasters involving radiation, particularly evidence from Chernobyl, indicates that mothers of young children and cleanup workers are the highest risk groups. The emotional consequences occur independently of the actual exposure received. In contrast, studies of children raised in the shadows of the Three Mile Island (TMI) and Chernobyl accidents suggest that although their self-rated health is less satisfactory than that of their peers, their emotional, academic, and psychosocial development is comparable. The importance of the psychological impact is underscored by its chronicity and by several studies showing that poor mental health is associated with physical health conditions, early mortality, disability, and overuse of medical services. Given the established increase in mental health problems following TMI and Chernobyl, it is likely that the same pattern will occur in residents and evacuees affected by the Fukushima meltdowns. Preliminary data from Fukushima indeed suggest that workers and mothers of young children are at risk of depression, anxiety, psychosomatic, and post-traumatic symptoms both as a direct result of their fears about radiation exposure and an indirect result of societal stigma. Thus, it is important that non-mental health providers learn to recognize and manage psychological symptoms and that medical programs be designed to reduce stigma and alleviate psychological suffering by integrating psychiatric and medical treatment within the walls of their clinics.Introduction of Emotional Consequences of Nuclear Power Plant Disasters (Video 2:15, http://links.lww.com/HP/A34).
核电厂灾难的情绪后果包括抑郁、焦虑、创伤后应激障碍和无法用医学解释的躯体症状。这些影响通常是长期的，并与对患癌症的恐惧有关。涉及辐射的灾难研究，特别是来自切尔诺贝利的证据表明，幼儿的母亲和清理工人是风险最高的群体。情绪后果的发生与实际接收到的辐射无关。相比之下，对在三里岛（TMI）和切尔诺贝利事故阴影下长大的儿童的研究表明，尽管他们的自我健康评估不如同龄人，但他们的情绪、学业和社会心理发展是可比的。心理健康影响的重要性体现在其长期性和几项研究表明，心理健康状况不佳与身体健康状况、早逝、残疾和过度使用医疗服务有关。鉴于 TMI 和切尔诺贝利事件后心理健康问题的明显增加，福岛受影响的居民和撤离者很可能会出现同样的模式。来自福岛的初步数据确实表明，工人和幼儿的母亲由于对辐射暴露的恐惧以及社会污名的间接影响，都面临着抑郁、焦虑、心身和创伤后症状的风险。因此，非心理健康提供者学会识别和管理心理症状，以及医疗计划通过在诊所内部整合精神和医疗治疗来减少污名和减轻心理痛苦，这一点非常重要。核电厂灾难的情绪后果（视频 2:15，http://links.lww.com/HP/A34）。
