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The effect of aircraft noise on the mental health of a community sample: a pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

A. Tarnopolsky ,
S. M. Barker ,
R. D. Wiggins  and
E. K. McLean
A. Tarnopolsky*
Affiliation:
The Institute of Psychiatry, London
S. M. Barker
Affiliation:
The Institute of Psychiatry, London
R. D. Wiggins
Affiliation:
The Institute of Psychiatry, London
E. K. McLean
Affiliation:
The Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr A. Tarnopolsky, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.
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Synopsis

Results of the investigation of a sample of size N = 200, half of whom live in the vicinity of a main airport, are reported. Three health indicators were examined: (1) annoyance reactions measured with a scale which did not include symptoms; (2) a symptom score, obtained with a screening instrument which identifies possible psychiatric cases; and (3) confirmed psychiatric cases identified with a traditional diagnosis after an interview by a psychiatrist. Noise was undoubtedly associated with annoyance. An association between noise and psychiatric measures was only present in a subgroup of respondents of high education. There was a marked association between annoyance and psychiatric measures. An attempt was made to clarify the nature of this relationship. Hypersensitivity to noise was associated with a high frequency of psychiatric symptoms and should be considered among the high risk factors for psychiatric illness.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , May 1978 , pp. 219 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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