Re[4]: Chernobyl Health Study Findings (fwd)

[Field@amrf-po.pmeh.uiowa.edu]

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        In answer to Dr. Field's message of 27 April, I must point out that
we would never claim that the stress reactions seen in the people who used
to live near Chernobyl have anything do to per se with radiation. It must
be realized that these people have gone through a very difficult time,
caused by displacement from their homes, separation of family members, and
by major economic failures associated with the political changes in the the
region. The finding that there appears to be an association with areas of
radiocontaminatio  n is more likely to result from their perception of
radiation exposure, rather than to any biophysical effect of ionizing
radiation.

                                Michael R. Quastel MD PhD
                                Head, Institute of Nuclear Medicine
                                Soroka Medical Center
                                Faculty of Health Sciences
                                Ben Gurion University of the Negev
                                Beer Sheva, Israel
                                Fax 972-7-274696
                                E-mail: maay100@bgumail.bgu.ac.il


          I appreciate the clarification. I understood that the
          finding was due in part to their perception of the
          radiation exposure rather than any physiological effect of
          their exposure.  My question was more in regards to the
          actual diagnosis of PTSD following a perceived exposure to
          radiation.  I am not familiar with this specific diagnosis
          being made in individuals following TMI.

          I understand the originators of the PTSD diagnosis had in
          mind stressors outside the range of normal human experience
          as the etiological agents.  Events like war, the atomic
          bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, natural disasters and
          human made disasters are outside the
          range of normal human experience.   Stressors like divorce,
          serious illness, economic failure, etc. historically have
          been characterized as adjustment disorders rather then PTSD.

          I can understand the difficulty in separating the actual
          stressors in these individuals.  The range of events they
          were exposed to (fear of radiation, displacement,
          separation from family members, etc.) was undoubtedly
          unique.  I wish Dr. Quastel the best of luck in his
          future research efforts.

                                  R. William Field, Ph.D.
                                  Department of Preventive Medicine
                                  University of Iowa
                                  Email: bill-field@uiowa.edu
                                  Phone:319-335-4413