Anxiety and somatoform disorder in the descendants of people exposed to radiation in Kazakhstan

Lyudmila M. Pivina, ТK Rakhypbekov, Altay Dyussupov, TI Belikhina, YuM Semenova, AM Manatova, Nurlan Aukenov, KZh Baildinova, NE Glushkova

European Journal of Public Health, 2017

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DOI 10.1093/eurpub/ckx189.018
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

Background The links between unfavorable environmental state and mental distress have been investigated in the past decades. As a result of tests carried out on the territory of Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, a large bulk of population was exposed to radiation. Still, there is no current research on the rates of anxiety and somatic distress among the descendants of irradiated people. The objective The aim of our study was to screen for the rates of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and somatic distress (SD) in the offspring of people affected by radiation in East Kazakhstan area in comparison with those born from unaffected people. Methods Overall, with the help of GAD-7 and PHQ-15 Scales we interviewed 467 people (241 females and 226 males) for anxiety and somatic distress rates. The study group included 234 people who were born from 1965 to 1999 in Abay region, parental average radiation dose was 466 mSv. Control group was representative by age and sex and included 233 offspring of non-exposed parents from Kurchum region. Results The rate of moderate to severe GAD (cut-off 10 on GAD-7 scale) in the study group was 23.5% (55/234), and 16.7% (39/233) in the control group. As for somatic distress, a total of 44.4% (104/234) of the study population was recorded as having moderate to severe somatic distress (PHQ-15≥10) as compared to 21.8% (51/233) in the controls. Overall, GAD and SD were more common in females (30.7% and 24.9%, respectively). Conclusions Anxiety and somatic distress are more prevalent in the offspring of people affected by radiation. These findings have implications for both policy and practice. Additional studies are needed to elucidate personal and environmental aspects contributing to mental and somatic distress. Key messages: Parental radiation exposure can promote the onset of mental health problems and their somatization in the offspring. Timely detection and management of anxiety and somatic distress could prevent further functional decline.