Mental disorders among Chernobyl cleanup workers from Estonia: A clinical assessment.
To assess, at a clinical level, the mental health of former Chernobyl cleanup workers from Estonia by comparing them with same-age controls.



The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was administered during 2011-2012 to 99 cleanup workers and 100 population-based controls previously screened for mental health symptoms.



Logistic regression analysis showed that cleanup workers had higher odds of current depressive disorder (odds ratio [OR] = 3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.34, 7.01]), alcohol dependence (OR = 3.47, 95% CI [1.29, 9.34]), and suicide ideation (OR = 3.44, 95% CI [1.28, 9.21]) than did controls. Except for suicide ideation, associations with Chernobyl exposure became statistically nonsignificant when adjusted for education and ethnicity.



A quarter of a century after the Chernobyl accident, Estonian cleanup workers were still at increased risk of mental disorders, which was partly attributable to sociodemographic factors. (PsycINFO Database Record
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development.
Kaia
0000-0003-4371-1358
K
Laidra
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development.
Kaja
K
Rahu
Center of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy SENSUS.
Katri-Evelin
KE
Kalaus
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development.
Mare
M
Tekkel
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development.|Stockholm Centre for Health and Social Change, Södertörn University
Mall
M
Leinsalu
D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000073397:Occupational Stress / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D057566:Self Report