Abstract
<jats:p>Background. The Chornobyl disaster caused long-term medical, biological, and psychosocial consequences, among which neuropsychiatric disorders occupy a leading place. Purpose – to summarize current evidence on the spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders in various groups of people affected by the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (CNPP) accident, analyze possible pathophysiological mechanisms, and identify prospects for further research. Materials and Methods. Data from epidemiological, clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging studies of participants in the liquidation of the accident (Chornobyl clean-up workers, ULNA), evacuated populations, residents of radiation-contaminated areas, and individuals exposed in utero were analyzed. Results. It is shown that neuropsychiatric disorders in victims are multifactorial in nature and are formed as a result of a combination of ionizing radiation, chronic psycho-emotional stress, and social factors. In ULNA, a dose-dependent increase in the risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, neurocognitive deficit, and cerebrovascular pathology has been established, with a characteristic decrease in verbal intelligence and involvement of the dominant left hemisphere of the brain. The role of low and moderate doses of ionizing radiation, the potential stochastic nature of radiocerebral effects, and the high radiovulnerability of the prenatal and infant brain are emphasized. The current limitations of research and prospects for the development of interdisciplinary approaches using biomarkers, neuroimaging, neurophysiology, and genetic-epigenetic methods for the prediction, prevention, and personalized rehabilitation of affected populations are outlined. Conclusions. The current stage of studying the neuropsychiatric consequences of the Chornobyl disaster requires a transition to long-term and internationally coordinated research able to provide not only scientific understanding of the mechanisms, but also practical tools for forecasting, prevention, medical and psychological support for victims. Future research into the neuropsychiatric consequences of the Chornobyl disaster should be aimed at integrating neuroscientific, molecular biological, and clinical approaches, which will broaden our understanding of the mechanisms and enable the creation of effective strategies for the prevention and rehabilitation of affected individuals. Adequate individual dosimetric support is of particular importance, without which it is impossible to correctly interpret dose-effect relationships.</jats:p>