Psychological features of patients with vibration disease in the post-contact period

Abstract

Introduction. Vibration disease (VD) occupies a leading place in the overall structure of chronic occupational pathology. High sensitivity to environmental influences, instability of emotional state, hypochondriac features, rigid stereotype of behavior, propensity to depressive states, dissatisfaction with the state which is often considered by patients as disability are revealed in patients with VD. However, there is almost no information about the psychoemotional state of patients in the post-exposure period.The aim of the study was to study the psychological status of patients with VD in the post-exposure period.Materials and methods. The studies were performed in patients with VD from exposure to local vibration in a connected sample (n=20), including the post-exposure period. For the evaluation of psychological status were used: «Scale of assessment of the level of reactive and personal anxiety», an adapted version of the Minnesota multi-factor personal questionnaire (MMPQ), «Lifestyle index «, the variants of coping behavior was investigated using the methodology of E. Heim.Results. Moderate level of reactive and high level of personal anxiety was revealed in patients with post-exposure period. The MMPQ profile throughout the study period is characterized by a neurotic slope. Patients with VD in the post-exposure period more often use relatively adaptive forms of cognitive strategies, the constructiveness of which depends on the significance and severity of the overcoming situation. Among the options for emotional coping is dominated by adaptive forms. A wide range of behavioral strategies, both constructive and non — constructive, was revealed in patients with post-exposure period; there is a relatively narrow range of intense mechanisms of psychological protection, which are represented by their protective forms — «denial», «displacement», «intellectualization» and «reactive formations».Conclusions: The studies show the persistence in the post-exposure period, previously identified in patients with VD of psychological problems that fi t into the framework developed the theory of sensory conflict of Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research, when developing long-term adaptive and non-adaptive reaction is complete the formation of the maladaptive psychological states. In the system of prevention of occupational pathology from the effects of vibration, it is necessary to provide measures of psycho-hygienic and psycho- prevention orientation for psychological adaptation of patients.