Citation

Abraini JH, Martinez E, Lemaire C, Bisson T, deMendoza JLJ, Therme P. J. Environ. Psychol. 1997; 17(2): 157-164.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Academic Press)

DOI

10.1006/jevp.1997.0050

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Occupational deep diving is an extreme situation that is characterized by both social and physical stressor agents such as long-term confinement and high-pressure exposure. High pressure is known to be a basic aetiological factor underlying central nervous system changes that include psychosensorimotor disorders. The authors report anxiety, sensorimotor, and cognitive responses in commercial divers participating in a hydrogen-oxygen experimental dive to 300 metres depth with long-term confinement in a pressure chamber. Anxiety data confirm that living and working in a high pressure of inert gases is not inherently stressful and further support the view that the main factor involved in the development of diving anxiety is the social environment rather than the physical environment. Alternatively, the cognitive and behavioural data suggest that the future of hydrogen as a diving gas could be limited, at least for depths greater than 200 metres, to an additional role to the basic helium-oxygen mixture.