Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026. Vol. 71. № 2

DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-2-18-25

A.A. Kosenkov, N.A. Metlyaeva, E.V. Goloborodko, G.G. Erofeev, 
V.V. Korenkov, S.N. Lukyanova

Dynamics of Psychological Adaptation in Patients with Acute Radiation Sickness: From the Acute Phase to 15–17 Years after the Chernobyl Accident

A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia

Contact person: A.A.Kosenkov, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To analyze the characteristics of psychological adaptation in patients during the acute phase of radiation sickness and in the long-term aftermath of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Material and methods: The study is based on the results of psychodiagnostic assessments of three patients who suffered from acute radiation sickness of grade I (one case) and grade II (two cases) following the Chernobyl accident. The data were obtained by the authors independently of each other in May-June 1986 and 15‒17 years later, and were merged in 2025. To examine personality traits and current mental state at both time points, two personality inventories were used: (1) the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI, Russian adaptation) and (2) the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF, Russian adaptation).

Results: At least one examination (in acute phase or 15‒17 years later) revealed abnormally elevated personality features in all three patients (values on one or more clinical MMPI scales are equal to 70 T-points or more). In two cases, such findings were present both during the acute phase and 15–17 years later. In two of the three patients, these signs of pronounced intrapsychic adaptation strain were accompanied by negative outcomes on the 16PF: high anxiety, dissatisfaction with the situation and one’s role in it, self-blame, frustration-related tension, and reduced behavioral integration. Analysis of the three cases revealed some general trends observed in the long-term period after acute radiation sickness. These included increasing dissatisfaction, tension, and need for support (MMPI F scale), a rise in depressive tendencies (MMPI D scale) either in absolute terms or relative to the Ma scale (Hypomania), and a decline in logical reasoning ability (16PF Factor B), though it remained within average or above-average levels. Nevertheless, the dynamics of psychological adaptation over the 15–17 years were highly individual. Due to the small sample size, the findings should be considered preliminary and require further verification.

Keywords: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, accident, acute radiation sickness, psychological adaptation, psychological consequences, long-term consequences

For citation: Kosenkov AA, Metlyaeva NA, Goloborodko EV, Erofeev GG, Korenkov VV, Lukyanova SN. Dynamics of Psychological Adaptation in Patients with Acute Radiation Sickness: From the Acute Phase to 15–17 Years after the Chernobyl Accident. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026;71(2):18–25. (In Russian). DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-2-18-25 

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The study had no sponsorship.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 20.01.2026. Accepted for publication: 25.02.2026.