-Caveat Lector- Subject: [BIOWAR] Psychiatrists urged to prepare for terrorism effects >>From Excite News, http://news.excite.com/news/r/991006/19/health-bio13 >- >Psychiatrists urged to prepare for terrorism effects > >Click on our sponsors! >Updated 7:03 PM ET October 6, 1999 > >NEW YORK, Oct 06 (Reuters Health) -- Widespread mental health disorders >would follow an act of terrorism involving chemical or biological weapons on >US soil, making early and ongoing psychiatric treatment essential for >affected communities, predicts a psychiatrist working with the US Navy. > >"Remote though the possibility of a terrorist-authored chemical or >biological incident in an American community may be, we must prepare for >one," according to Dr. Cleto DiGiovanni, Jr., from the National Naval >Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. His review article is published in the >October issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. > >In his report, DiGiovanni catalogs the breadth of mental illnesses that can >result from the actual or feared exposure to chemical or biological weapons. >Nerve agents, for example, can cause depression, insomnia, impaired >thinking, and antisocial thoughts. Even the drug most commonly used to treat >nerve agent exposure, atropine, "can produce psychiatric side effects >ranging from drowsiness to hyperactivity, hallucinations, and coma," he >writes. > >Biological weapons can diminish the ability to think clearly and produce >depression, irritability, and hallucinations, he adds. > >One role of psychiatrists in the management of domestic terrorism is to >distinguish between physical effects and psychiatric effects of the agent or >the threat of exposure. According to DiGiovanni, the uncertainty and >surprise surrounding possible exposure to unfamiliar threats can spawn fear, >panic, and psychosomatic disorders. A careful psychiatric examination can >sort out the physical effects of the agents from the psychological response >of the exposed person. > >In order to be able to distinguish between physical and psychiatric effects, >though, "psychiatrists should become familiar with the effects of, and >treatment for, the chemical and biological agents that may be used in a >terrorist incident," he suggests. > >Psychiatrists will be involved in several aspects of the management of a >chemical or biological incident, according to DiGiovanni. "That role >includes immediate treatment of individual patients and groups of patients >who are experiencing the psychological impact of a mass disaster, organizing >and managing the delivery of mental healthcare by others to the community, >and assisting local medical facilities and community leaders in the control >of widespread anxiety, fear, and perhaps even panic," he writes. > >Potential patients can take some comfort in the fact that effective >therapies are available for the range of psychological problems they might >experience as a result of domestic terrorism, DiGiovanni reports, although >survivors of any disaster could require prolonged care. > >SOURCE: American Journal of Psychiatry 1999;156:1500-1505 > >-- >Dan S > > > >*********************************************************************** >BIOWAR-L Biowar/Bioterrorism/Toxins Mailing List >To unsubscribe or subscribe: send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >with the following text: unsubscribe BIOWAR-L or subscribe BIOWAR-L. >Post to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Archive: ><http://www.sonic.net/~west/digest.htm>. BIOWAR Web site: ><http://www.sonic.net/~west/biowar.htm>. -Wes Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > We are about to go on a Journey. All Aboard http://sites.netscape.net/gsussnzl/homepage Bargain Books http://bn.bfast.com/bfast/click/mid1349732?siteid=10734186&bfpage=b DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
