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The authors emphasize the significance of psychological studies in patients with occupational diseases. Foreign and home investigations of the problem are reported. The programme and prospects for the introduction of the methods into practical medicine are presented.

Biochemical studies of opiate system in patients with occupational diseases showed the role of the central pain regulating system inducing the pain syndrome in autonomic and sensory polyneuropathy caused by occupational factors. Increased production of the pain-reducing endogenic neuropeptides such as endorphin and leucine enkephalin was found one of the He-Ne laser acting principles which restore the pain adaptation in human. A repeated course of laser therapy would normalize the content of both neuropeptides. Blood levels of neuropeptides may serve for evaluating the pain syndrome and estimating of laser therapy effects.

Physiological and clinical on-the-spot studies were performed of the labour conditions in 3 groups of female sewing-machine operators (respectively, engaged in making women's dresses, men's suits and men's coats). The analysis performed revealed different degrees of physical load and fatigue in the operators depending on the occupational peculiarities. Specific features of the peripheral nervous system and locomotor system disorders were studied in details, along with the causal relationships underlying the degree of physical load and fatiguability, overstrain development and cumulation. The results of the study were used as a basis for setting Health-Related regulations for sewing-machine operators.

The article presents data on the treatment of dust induced diseases of the lungs, occupational bronchial pathology, lead poisoning, allergic skin diseases, occupational hypoacusis and occupational NS disorders. The treatment techniques included relatively new therapies of which non-medicinal techniques were preferred, such as needle therapy, entherosorption, phytotherapy, manual therapy, vacuum massage, etc.

The clinico-functional examination of agricultural machine-operators, truck drivers, excavator and boring machine operators revealed that, under low-frequency general vibration, polymorphic pathologic changes occur in human organism. Those include peripheral vascular and neuritic disorders and changes in the vertebral column. The most peculiar symptoms of VD are dealt with. The data obtained show to the importance of further elaboration of differential diagnostic criteria of VD, specifying its pathogenic mechanisms and prevention measures working out.