Psychiatric Inferences from Data on Psychologic/Psychiatric Symptoms in Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Syndrome

Abstract

When abnormal psychologic/psychiatric symptom data are obtained on personality tests or psychiatric interviews administered to patients who report symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Syndrome, investigators typically attribute these to either psychiatric traits or to psychogenic origins of illness. The primary purpose of these studies was the evaluation of the plausibility of nonpsychiatric explanations of psychologic/psychiatric symptom data. In Study 1, patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Syndrome used the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) to describe which items had changed after they developed the condition. In Study 2, three diverse groups of professionals predicted which items on the MMPI-2 might change after a mentally healthy person developed the Syndrome or a condition resembling it. In Study 3, a second sample of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Syndrome patients completed the MMPI-2 and other questionnaires by mail, which allowed the authors to ascertain whether these patients showed more or different psychopathology than was described by patients and hypothesized by professionals. Data from Study 1 patient informants indicated that developing the syndrome might result in a psychopathological MMPI-2 profile, characterized by abnormal Hypochondriasis and Hysteria scale scores. Professionals in Study 2 showed a consensus about hypothesized MMPI-2 changes following the development of the syndrome. These changes likely elevated the Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, Psychasthenia, Depression, and Schizophrenia scale scores. In Study 3, the patients taking the MMPI-2 showed elevations on the Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, Depression (women only), and Schizophrenia scales. Abnormal scores were associated closely with greater severity of illness and greater adjustment to illness. The strategy of administering psychometric tests to ill populations for the purposes of evaluating psychiatric illness or traits, and/or psychogenic origins of illness was shown to be potentially misleading.

The correlation between mental health and multiple chemical sensitivity: a survey study in Japanese workers

“…People with MCS have a higher prevalence of current psychiatric symptoms and disorders [13]. In previous studies [21,22], MCS patients had higher rates of current mental disorders than controls [3]. In eight investigations, psychiatric disorders were found in 36-100 % of MCS patients [23].…”

Environmental Sensitivities: Prevalence of Major Symptoms in a Referral Center: The Nova Scotia Environmental Sensitivities Research Center Study

“…A priori labeling of these symptoms as psychogenic has done tremendous harm: It has hindered the ability of affected individuals to seek help, and also the amount of research conducted (7,28,30). It is time to recognize that we cannot separate the psyche from the physical dimensions of the human being, and that we must understand and support ES sufferers.…”

A review of a two-phase population study of multiple chemical sensitivities.

“…MCS is generally acknowledged to be a condition where individuals have an acute hypersensitivity to low levels of chemicals found in everyday substances such as household cleaning agents, pesticides, fresh paint, new carpeting, synthetic building materials, newsprint, perfume, and numerous other petrochemicalbased products (Davidoff et al 2000). MCS can produce a wide range of symptoms, and individuals with hypersensitivity can encounter great difficulty functioning in normal working and living environments (Lax and Henneberger 1995).…”