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Mental health and psychosocial consequences linked to radiation emergencies - Increasingly recognised concerns

Lagergren Lindberg, Marita ; Hedman, Christel LU ; Lindberg, Karin ; Valentin, Jack and Stenke, Leif (2022) In Journal of Radiological Protection 42(3).
Abstract

A major radiological or nuclear emergency may, apart from causing a substantial loss of life and physical damage, also put a substantial strain on affected societies with social, economic and political consequences. Although such emergencies are relatively uncommon, it is now being increasingly recognised that their subsequent psychosocial impact can be widespread and long lasting. Mental health effects, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, are highly represented in a population affected by a radiation disaster. In order to reach the majority of the people affected by radiation accidents, we need to be aware of how to distribute relevant and accurate information related to both short- and long-term medical... (More)

A major radiological or nuclear emergency may, apart from causing a substantial loss of life and physical damage, also put a substantial strain on affected societies with social, economic and political consequences. Although such emergencies are relatively uncommon, it is now being increasingly recognised that their subsequent psychosocial impact can be widespread and long lasting. Mental health effects, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, are highly represented in a population affected by a radiation disaster. In order to reach the majority of the people affected by radiation accidents, we need to be aware of how to distribute relevant and accurate information related to both short- and long-term medical effects. Effective risk communication is associated with improved compliance with any given recommendations. It is important to protect the public from physical radiation damage, but it is also essential to take into account the social and mental health effects that radiation disasters may induce. This article provides a brief review of recent reporting on the psychological consequences after a major radiation emergency.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
mental health, radiation anxiety, risk communication, risk perception
in
Journal of Radiological Protection
volume
42
issue
3
article number
031001
publisher
IOP Publishing
external identifiers
  • scopus:85134426724
  • pmid:35767945
ISSN
0952-4746
DOI
10.1088/1361-6498/ac7d19
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6c0f010e-03a0-44f8-9560-adb0f8c02649
date added to LUP
2022-09-07 14:52:35
date last changed
2024-06-27 20:32:38
@article{6c0f010e-03a0-44f8-9560-adb0f8c02649,
  abstract     = {{<p>A major radiological or nuclear emergency may, apart from causing a substantial loss of life and physical damage, also put a substantial strain on affected societies with social, economic and political consequences. Although such emergencies are relatively uncommon, it is now being increasingly recognised that their subsequent psychosocial impact can be widespread and long lasting. Mental health effects, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, are highly represented in a population affected by a radiation disaster. In order to reach the majority of the people affected by radiation accidents, we need to be aware of how to distribute relevant and accurate information related to both short- and long-term medical effects. Effective risk communication is associated with improved compliance with any given recommendations. It is important to protect the public from physical radiation damage, but it is also essential to take into account the social and mental health effects that radiation disasters may induce. This article provides a brief review of recent reporting on the psychological consequences after a major radiation emergency. </p>}},
  author       = {{Lagergren Lindberg, Marita and Hedman, Christel and Lindberg, Karin and Valentin, Jack and Stenke, Leif}},
  issn         = {{0952-4746}},
  keywords     = {{mental health; radiation anxiety; risk communication; risk perception}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  publisher    = {{IOP Publishing}},
  series       = {{Journal of Radiological Protection}},
  title        = {{Mental health and psychosocial consequences linked to radiation emergencies - Increasingly recognised concerns}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1361-6498/ac7d19}},
  doi          = {{10.1088/1361-6498/ac7d19}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}