title: Polonium-210 poisoning in London: hypochondriasis and public health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In November 2006, a Russian dissident died from radioactive Polonium-210 (210Po) poisoning in London. Providing reassuring messages during a public health incident may be ineffective for individuals with high health anxiety (hypochondriasis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the public who called a 24-hour telephone helpline were offered a follow-up call by a health protection specialist for reassurance. A psychiatrist attempted to contact those callers who were unable to be reassured by the health protection specialist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 872 individuals contacted for reassurance, seven (0.6%) could not be reassured. The psychiatrist contacted four of these individuals. Three had a history of health-related anxiety and two attributed somatic symptoms to 210Po exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For individuals with hypochondriasis, reassurance during major public health incidents may be ineffective. Having a psychiatrist available was helpful in managing individuals with excessive health anxiety.
authors.affiliation: East of England Regional Epidemiology Unit, Health Protection Agency, London, UK. omorgan@bigfoot.com
authors.forename: Oliver W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maguire
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D007046:Hysteria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008603:Mental Health; D011059:Polonium / Q000506:poisoning*; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011059:Polonium