Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2013. Vol. 58. No. 4. P. 34–41

RADIATION MEDICINE

N.A. Metlyaeva

Clinico-Psychophysiological Adaptation of the Patient During Period of Acute Radiation Disease’s Remote Consequences

Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of FMBA, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the clinical-psychophysiological state of social adaptation of the patient in the period of late consequences of acute radiation disease (ARD) of severe degree combined with very severe local radiation injuries from the non-uniform gamma and neutron irradiation.

Material and methods: M.D.A. 32 year aged, the engineer – researcher of the National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” was accidentally exposed (May 26, 1971) to gamma neutron radiation with non-uniform absorbed dose distribution (the dose to the head 1,3 Gy, to breast 2,1Gy, to legs 16 Gy), survived the ARD of middle severity with very severe local radiation injuries with the subsequent amputation of both legs at upper level of shins in 1973.

Psychophysiological inspection of M.D.A. according to the MMPI test, Kettell’s test, Ravena, sensorimotor reactions was carried out 30 years after radiation accident and repeated in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009 y.y. with use of the automated program and methodical Expert complex intended for research of personal properties of the patient, cognitive and intellectual features of the personality.

Results: Average profile of multilateral research of the personality (MMPI) and dynamics of indicators through the years of supervision (2001–2009) points out to the disharmonious combination of hypochondriacal, trouble - depressive with demonstrative tendencies to prevalence of a demonstration.

The assessment of efficiency of psychophysiological adaptation in comparison with 2009 indicates the increas of hypochondriacal tendencies prevalence over a demonstration with accession of high uneasiness and autistic lines at preservation of the leading role of an hypochondriacal.. The changes revealed in dynamics correspond to the specific increase weight of violations of mental adaptation, characteristic for the period of adaptation exhaustion.

Conclusions: Efficiency of psychophysiological adaptation depends not only on a dose of radiation and degree of disease, but, in a bigger measure, on premorbid features of the patient and his social and labor position. Specific M.D.A features of psychophysiological adaptation and his expressed personal lines conformed the requirements of the environment and defined his resistant, courageous behavior, long professional suitability, full-fledged life, ability hold the work account.

Key words: acute radiation disease, ionizing radiation, local radiation injuries, adaptation