Psychosomatic treatment to improve the Quality of Life of the Chernobyl disaster aftermath Liquidators.

 «Quality of life research». №7, 8 October/December 1997. 

(Volume 6)

The analysis and optimization of treatment of 28 men (outpatients) with residual radiational reactions after contamination (23—30 roentgen) which took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster was carried out to improve their quality of life (QoL). 

All of these patients complained of weakness, anxiety and astheno-hypochondrical sensations, flabbiness, dizziness, headache, insomnia, cardiac and intestinal pains, constipation, renal cramps, impotentia and absence of libido and decline of weight. However, there was no real organic somatic nature to their complaints. 

It was shown by phenomenological method that these patients suffered from so-called chronic post-radiational psycho-somatosis (term of E. Chernosvitov). For the improvement of QoL of these patients special schemes of psychotherapeutical and psychopharmacological treatment were created. 

Combinations of rational psychotherapy, autogenic relaxation and hypnotical suggestion with varied psychopharmacotherapy using small doses of eglonil-sulpirid, teralen-alimemazin, merlit-lorazepam, phenazepam, xanaxalzolam and tofizopam-grandaxin) were the most effective. At the same time amitriptylin and anxiolitics with sedative components (valium-diazepam and librium-chlordiazepoxid) reinforced manifestations of astheno-hypochodrical.

E. Chernosvitov

Emergency Somatic Hospital, Moscow, Russia