Psychologic adjustment of watermen with exposure of Pfiesteria piscicida

Preliminary study of the psychologic adjustment of watermen with exposure to Pfiesteria piscicida was conducted on watermen with the most severe exposures and their occupationally matched controls. Participants in the exposed group were seven symptomatic recreational and commercial fishermen who had direct exposure to the Pocomoke River or other estuarial waters on Maryland's Eastern Shore before, during, and/or after periods of documented fish kills and Pfiesteria activity. The control group included eight commercial fishermen who worked on the ocean side of the Eastern Shore and had no reported exposure to estuaries with documented Pfiesteria activity. Both exposed symptomatic and nonexposed watermen completed the Profile of Mood States to assess depression, anxiety, and other relevant mood states as part of their participation in the larger investigation of the human health effects of Pfiesteria piscicida. Preliminary results suggest that both exposed symptomatic and nonexposed watermen are psychologically healthy and exhibit what psychologists refer to as the classic Iceberg Mood Profile. The Iceberg Profile is characterized by endorsement of symptoms suggestive of high energy, enthusiasm and positive mood (e.g., lively, active, energetic, cheerful, vigorous, etc.) and relative minimization of symptoms suggestive of negative or depressed mood (e.g., tense, anxious, restless, grouchy, forgetful). Therefore, the Pfiesteria-related symptom complex documented in the exposed watermen cannot be explained by functional or psychiatric factors and is probably due to exposure.