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Polonium-210 Poisoning in London: Hypochondriasis and Public Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Oliver W. Morgan ,
Lisa Page ,
Sarah Forrester  and
Helen Maguire
Oliver W. Morgan*
Affiliation:
East of England Regional Epidemiology Unit, Health Protection Agency, London, UK
Lisa Page
Affiliation:
Division of Chemical Hazards and Poisons (London), Health Protection Agency, London, UK Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
Sarah Forrester
Affiliation:
London Regional Office, Health Protection Agency, London, UK
Helen Maguire
Affiliation:
London Regional Office, Health Protection Agency, London, UK St. Georges Hospital Medical School, London, UK
*
Health Protection Agency London Region 330 High Holborn London UK WC1V 7PP E-mail: omorgan@bigfoot.com
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Abstract

Introduction:

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 reas-sured 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 210 Po 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.

Keywords

anxietyhypochondriasismental healthpoisoningpublic healthradiation incidentrisk assessmentrisk communication
Type
Case Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 2008 , pp. 96 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

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