The role of psychological factors in the report of building-related symptoms in sick building syndrome.

Abstract

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is an increasingly common problem, although continued skepticism exists regarding its validity. Because of this, the attribution of complaints to psychogenic causes or mas hysteria persists. In this study (N = 111), self-report measures of psychopathology (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory [Hathaway & McKinley, 1983] and SCL-90-R [Derogatis, 1983]) and physical symptom reports failed to discriminate symptomatic from nonsymptomatic workers in an affected building but could more generally differentiate workers in the target building from control subjects. These results suggest that SBS cannot be justifiably attributed to psychological factors alone, although working in a contaminated environment appeared to have deleterious psychological consequences for some workers. Smoking history (in pack/years [packs per day x number of years smoked]) was reliably associated with the development of symptoms in exposed workers. Issues related to the assessment of psychological complaints in SBS are discussed.

The role of stress and social support in Sick Building Syndrome

“…In addition, management's unwillingness to remedy the problem resulted in high levels of distrust and resentment among all building occupants (Bauer et al, 1992). Psychological stress due to lack of management support, or scepticism regarding the existence of the illness, may exacerbate symptoms contributing to its duration and severity (Baker, 1989 ;Black, Rathe, and Goldstein, 1993 ;Ryan, and Morrow, 1992).…”

“…Psychological factors : The inability to identify any single causal factor for SBS may support psychogenic explanations for the physical complaints (Baker, 1989 ;Bauer et al, 1992;Rothman, and Weintraub, 1995 ;Ryan, and Morrow, 1992). Colligan, and Murphy (1979) referred to these types of physical complaints as a distinct diagnostic entity, labelled Contagious Psychogenic Illness (CPI).…”

“…Until recently, this con guration of symptoms has often been referred to as ' Tight Building Syndrome', owing to poor indoor air quality as the sole result of inadequate ventilation systems (Hodgson, and Morey, 1989). With the discovery that other physical and psychological factors contribute to the onset and severity of these symptoms, ' Tight Building Syndrome' became more commonly referred to as ' Sick Building Syndrome ' (Baker, 1989 ;Bauer et al, 1992 ;Norback, Michel, and Widstrom, 1990 ;Ryan, and Morrow, 1992 ;Skov, Valbjorn, and Pedersen, 1989). Subsequently, the term ' Sick Building Syndrome ' gained currency as an umbrella term for poor health related to unsatisfactory environmental conditions.…”

“…Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a condition that involves seemingly healthy individuals experiencing symptoms of physical and}or psychological distress in their work settings (Baker, 1989 ;Bauer, Greve, Besch et al, 1992 ;Ryan, and Morrow, 1992). Large numbers of employees are aŠ ected by SBS.…”

Categories of Adverse Health Effects from Indoor Air Pollution

“…The cause of SBS remains unknown, although it is like ly that there are connections with psychological factors [69,70], inadequate ventilation [71] and the level of hygiene in the building [72], One recent study [73] failed to establish that increasing the outdoor air supply would reduce the perception of the indoor environment by occu pants, but then the buildings utilized were not classified as sick. Presumably, the extent of dilution of any chemical pollutant with outdoor air is below that needed to prevent its accumulation.…”