Psychological evaluation of the emotional effects of a community toxic exposure.
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.
Greve
Kevin W
KW
Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA. kgreve@uno.edu
Bianchini
Kevin J
KJ
Doane
Bridget M
BM
Love
Jeffrey M
JM
Stickle
Timothy R
TR
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
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002273:Carcinogens; D015386:Hazardous Substances