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Volume 23 - February 2008

Contents

Page 8 of 8

Case Report

  • Polonium-210 Poisoning in London: Hypochondriasis and Public Health

  • Oliver W. Morgan, Lisa Page, Sarah Forrester, Helen Maguire
  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    28 June 2012, pp. 96-97
  • 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.

Chair Reports

Front matter

  • PDM volume 23 issue 4 Cover and Front matter

  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    28 June 2012, pp. f1-f8
    • Article
      • You have access
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Other

Chair Reports

Other

Chair Reports

Other

Chair Reports

Front matter

  • PDM volume 23 Supplement 2 Front matter

  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    28 June 2012, pp. f1-f4
    • Article
      • You have access
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Back matter

  • PDM volume 23 Supplement 2 Cover and Back matter

  • Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    28 June 2012, pp. b1-b5
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Page 8 of 8