Highly concentrated aqueous solutions of bromide were used to examine the total radical yield in the direct decomposition of water by gamma-rays. Bromide concentrations were varied up to 6 M at which almost all OH center dot radicals, H-center dot atoms, and hydrated electrons produced in the picosecond range oxidize bromide to ultimately form Br-3(-), a stable species that can easily be measured with a spectrometer. Considering only the decomposition of water in the presence of air and in acidic conditions, the apparent yield of oxidizing species is found to be around (10 +/- 0.05) x 10(-7) mol J(-1). The absorption of irradiation dose by the solute at high concentration is discussed and quantitatively evaluated. At 6 M Br- solutions, 38% of the dose is absorbed by solutes and Br- is directly ionized. The optimal value for the initial yield of the radicals produced by direct radiolytic Br- ionization is found to be (9.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(-7) mol J(-1).