SELF-REPORTED LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF DIVING AND DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS IN RECREATIONAL SCUBA-DIVERS

The aim of this study was to examine the long-term effects of neurolog ical decompression illness (NDCI) on recreational divers. Thirty-seven divers who had been treated for neurological decompression illness at least 2 years previously, and a control group of 50 divers with no hi story of decompression illness, reponded to a postal questionnaire. Di vers in the accident group reported more symptoms of neurological dama ge, were more likely to believe that diving had a deleterious effect o n their health and were more likely to indicate symptoms of psychiatri c morbidity. The quantity of diving in the year preceding the survey w as associated with reports of neurological damage in both groups and w ith symptoms of psychiatric morbidity in the accident group. Although requiring confirmation from a longitudinal study, these results sugges t that recreational diving can have negative long-term consequences fo r health, particularly after decompression illness.