title: Psychological evaluation of the emotional effects of a community toxic exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the emotional effects of a major community toxic release while controlling the potential effects of response bias associated with litigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 152 exposed adult litigants and a matched unexposed comparison group (n = 76). Psychological assessment methods included: (1) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2; (2) Symptom Checklist-90-Revised; and (3) Impact of Event Scale-Revised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten to 40% of the exposed group demonstrated emotional distress (compared with a 5% comparison baseline) depending on indicator and cutoff score used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The psychological consequences of a community toxic exposure were present even when exaggeration was carefully controlled. Accounting for exaggeration in the assessment of subjective psychological complaints provides a more accurate view of the subjective emotional state of persons who have experienced toxic exposure thereby facilitating appropriate clinical management of their mental health needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA. kgreve@uno.edu
authors.forename: Kevin W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Bridget M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Doane
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Stickle
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015982:Bias; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011890:Railroads; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002273:Carcinogens; D015386:Hazardous Substances