Physiological and Psychological Effects of Extreme Environments
Various adaptive biological processes can take place to cope with the specific stressors of extreme terrestrial environments like cold, heat, hypoxia (high-altitude) and ICE (Isolated, Confined, and Extreme). Examples of the physiological effects that humans face in an extreme environment are:
- Stationary (stagnant) exhibits baseline level personality dysregulation.
- Circadian rhythm desynchronization.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Changes in peripheral circulation; hypothermia; and frostbite.
- Hypoxia and altitude-induced cardiopulmonary symptoms.
- Headaches.
- Deficiency of carbon dioxide in the blood.
- Hyperventilation
- Suppression of immune system
- Disruption of thyroid function.
- Light and dark-cycle disturbances.
- Absence of viral and bacterial agents.
- Increase in hormonal dysregulation.
- Increase in cortisol.
- Sleep deprivation.
- Vestibular and sensorimotor alterations.
- Expeditionary (deployments and combat) which induces high dopamine.
Changes in the physical environment have been shown to produce changes in the psychosocial issues confronting crews operating in extreme settings. This has the potential to produce symptoms of depression, insomnia, irritability or anger, anxiety and tension-anxiety, confusion, fatigue, and decrements in cognitive performance. Additionally, sleep impairment and sleep deprivation that contribute to psychopathology are known to be major causes of the breakdown of personal, and interpersonal conflict, tension, and group/team cohesion.
Disruptions in sleep are known to produce brain fog and brain inflammation which also induce psychopathology. These symptoms run the risk of producing cognitive, and behavioral conditions; and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, and acute psychosis all of which are responsible for impaired thought-process and performance errors.
“Individual issues include changes in emotions and cognitive performance; seasonal syndromes linked to changes in the physical environment; and positive effects of adapting to ICE environments. Interpersonal issues include processes of crew cohesion, tension, and conflict; interpersonal relations and social support; the impact of group diversity and leadership styles on small group dynamics; and crew-mission control interactions. Organizational issues include the influence of organizational culture and mission duration on individual and group performance, crew autonomy, and managerial requirements for long duration missions” (Palinkas & Suedfeld, 2021).
Furthermore, some extreme environments can produce seasonal variations in mood and somatic complaints, mostly due to lack of natural sunlight, extreme weather, and free access to move about in the environment. An example of this would be space and high-pressure environments that would force humans to remain within their habitat for long periods of time.
Winter-Over Syndrome is a cluster of symptoms of sleep disturbance, impaired cognition, negative affect, and interpersonal tension and conflict (Palinkas & Suedfeld, 2021).
Polar T3 Syndrome is an alteration of mood and cognition related to thyroid function (Palinkas & Suedfeld, 2021).
Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder occurs when extreme variations in the patterns of daylight and darkness in high latitude induce behavioral symptoms which disrupt circulating melatonin concentrations, a major transducer of photoperiod information for the timing of multiple circadian and circannual physiologic rhythms (including rhythms of energetic arousal, mood, and cognitive performance) (Palinkas & Suedfeld, 2021).
