PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERCEIVED HEALTH EFFECTS OF THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER: A 20-YEAR REVIEW.

This article reports on a paper looking into the psychological and perceived health effects of the population surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant following its explosion in 1986. Many believe that the mental impact of the disease has been more harmful than the physical trauma. This paper reviews studies during the 20-year period following the disaster on stress-related symptoms in highly exposed cleanup workers. People from this area report more medical unexplained physical symptoms compared to controls. Suicide rates among cleanup workers are significantly higher than those for the regular population suggesting that long-term interventions should be started to treat these patients.