Can we diminish the psychosomatic effects of exposure to nuclear fallout?

Whitehead Neil

Hoshi Masaharu

IPSHU English Research Report Series

Radiation in large doses has bad effects on human tissues. The effects have been traced by organisations such as RERF for many decades, and will be further traced following the Fukushima incidents. Those exposed to much smaller amounts, may enter a profoundly negative downwards psychological spiral, and attribute all their problems to such exposure. We propose these effects could be diminished by (1) Indirect education about radiation effects (2) education about the repair mechanisms in the human body (3) that for most man-made exposure, including radiation, the body is able to deal with amounts much higher than encountered in the course of evolution (examples will be given) (4) that radionuclides are not in a uniquely toxic category (5) participation in a hyper-optimistic philosophy as found in some organisations usually selling goods and training their members (6) willingness of scientists to expose themselves publicly to these agents, in safe amounts (7) administration of a placebo e.g. Prozac (8) slow disappearance of symptoms with time (9) psychotherapy, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. A New Zealand example of navy personnel exposed during WWII is reviewed.

Peace Science [ 319 ]

eng

広島大学平和科学研究センター

Copyright (c) 2012 Institute for Peace Science, Hiroshima University

[NCID] AA10456537