Space missions: psychological and psychopathological issues
- 24 May 2021
- journal article
- editorial
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in CNS Spectrums
- Vol. 27 (5), 536-540
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852921000535
Abstract
Exploring space is one of the most attractive goals that humanity ever set, notwithstanding, there are some psychological and psychopathological risks that should be considered. Several studies identified some possible hazards of space travels and related physical and psychological consequences on astronauts. If some psychological reactions are obviously inherent to the characteristics of the spaceships (habitability, confinement, psychological, and interpersonal relationships), other (disturbances of sleep-wake cycle, personality changes, depression, anxiety, apathy, psychosomatic symptoms, neurovestibular problems, alterations in cognitive function, and sensory perception) represent a clear warning of possible central nervous system (CNS) alterations, possibly due to microgravity and cosmic radiation. Such conditions and eventual CNS changes might compromise the success of missions and the ability to cope with unexpected events and may lead to individual and long-term impairments. Therefore, further studies are needed, perhaps, requiring the birth of a novel branch of psychology/psychiatry that should not only consider the risks related to space exploration, but the implementation of targeted strategies to prevent them.Keywords
This publication has 52 references indexed in Scilit:
- Prolonged space flight-induced alterations in the structure and function of human skeletal muscle fibresJournal Of Physiology-London, 2010
- Changes in the Hierarchy of Value References Associated With Flying in SpaceJournal of Personality, 2010
- Exercise in space: human skeletal muscle after 6 months aboard the International Space StationJournal of Applied Physiology, 2009
- Spaceflight effects on T lymphocyte distribution, function and gene expressionJournal of Applied Physiology, 2009
- Space motion sickness: The sensory motor controls and cardiovascular correlationActa Astronautica, 2008
- Heavy ions light flashes and brain functions: recent observations at accelerators and in spaceflightNew Journal of Physics, 2008
- Positive visual phenomena in space: A scientific case and a safety issue in space travelVision Research, 2006
- Anorexia in space and possible etiologies: An overviewNutrition, 2002
- Fiery Demise Spells End of Longest Research RunScience, 2001
- Mental performance in extreme environments: results from a performance monitoring study during a 438-day spaceflightErgonomics, 1998