PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIVITY IN LIQUIDA TORS OF CZERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT

The technique <<Imagery>> specially devised for investigation of postt raumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and preliminary validated has been us ed for diagnostics of psychophysiological reactivity in liquidators of Czernobyl nuclear accident in the process of their imagination of pri vate traumatic experience. The liquidators, worked in area of Czernoby l nuclear accident in 1986-1988 years, took part in investigation. Ss were divided into two subgroups, which were distinguished on the prese nce of PSTD. PTSD was diagnosed with the criterion of DSM-III-R (diagn ostic psychiatric standard of USA). The group with PSTD diagnosis cons isted of 13 Ss and the group without it (NORM) - of 16 Ss. Data have s hown, that in Czernobyl liquidators with PSTD diagnosis the growth of psychophysiological reactivity in the process of their imagination of private traumatic situations, connected with their being in Czernobyl, was not observed. These data are distinguished from similar results, received with other Ss-persons experienced the war stress and other ac cidents. Received results are evidence of absence of high psychophysio logical reactivity in persons with PSTD diagnosis which occurs as a re sult of strength of so called <<unvisual>> trauma. High psychophysiolo gical reactivity is typical for sacrifices of traumatic stress of anot her aetiology.