A Controlled Comparison of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Details

• Personal Author:
  DeLuca J ; Fiedler N ; Kelly-McNeil K ; Kipen HM ; Natelson B
• Description:
  The present study had two objectives: 1) to determine the characteristics that differentiated subjects with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), chemical sensitivities (CS), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); and 2) to evaluate the psychiatric and neuropsychological complaints of these groups relative to normal controls. A cross-sectional comparison was made of the following groups matched for age, sex, and education: 1) patients whose sensitivities to multiple low level chemical exposures began with a defined exposure (MCS; N = 23); 2) patients with sensitivities to multiple chemicals without a clear date of onset (CS; N = 13); 3) patients meeting CDC criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS; N = 18); and 4) normal controls (N = 18). Subjects with sensitivities to chemicals (MCS and CS) reported significantly more lifestyle changes due to chemical sensitivities and significantly more chemical substances that made them ill compared with chronic fatigue and normal controls. MCS, CS, and CFS patients had significantly higher rates of current psychiatric disorders than normal controls and reported significantly more physical symptoms with no medical explanation. Seventy-four percent of MCS and 61% of CFS did not qualify for any current Axis I psychiatric diagnosis. Chemically sensitive subjects without a defined date of onset (CS) had the highest rate of Axis I psychiatric disorders (69%). On the MMPI-2, 44% of MCS, 42% of CS, 53% of CFS, and none of the controls achieved clinically significant elevations on scales associated with somatoform disorders. With the exception of one complex test of visual memory, no significant differences were noted among the groups on tests of neuropsychological function. Standardized measures of psychiatric and neuropsychological function did not differentiate subjects with sensitivities to chemicals from those with chronic fatigue. Subjects with sensitivities to chemicals and no clear date of onset had the highest rate of psychiatric morbidity. Standardized neuropsychological tests did not substantiate the cognitive impairment reported symptomatically. Cognitive deficits may become apparent under controlled exposure conditions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Chemical Sensitivities Chemical Hypersensitivity Chemicals Chronic Fatigue Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cross Sectional Studies Exposure Assessment MCS Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Neuropsychiatric Psychiatric Psychological Factors

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• ISSN:
  0033-3174
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New Jersey ; New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  38-49
• Volume:
  58
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059977
• Citation:
  Psychosom Med 1996 Jan/Feb; 58(1):38-49
• Contact Point Address:
  Address reprint requests to: Dr. Nancy Fielder, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Department of Environmental and Community Medicine, 681 Frelinghuysen Road Piscataway, NJ 08855
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1996
• Performing Organization:
  Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19920701
• Source Full Name:
  Psychosomatic Medicine
• End Date:
  19970630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9469485a6839b4875bc9b1b35a8bba1bd8f4728f26421b358ae90a5f448e73f7b16826c966b80b65eb9e24668530458ed7838839f96b862e5634f5c9750a3686
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224025/cdc_224025_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.07 MB ]