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Are New Functional Medical Disorders A Manifestation Of Environmental Toxicity?

In recent years there has been the emergence of a number of new illnesses that are attributed to environmental factors: multiple chemical sensitivity, syndrome related to dental amalgam and silicone breats implant, electrical hypersensitivity, sick-building syndrome, toner-related illness, and so on.

Peter Henningsen (University of Heidelberg) and Stefan Priebe (University of London) discuss in an editorial of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics these disorders. They point to similarities between these different disorders, despite the different pathogenic assumptions made by the patients. The lack of conclusive evidence about potential toxic factors and symptomatology does not rule out this relationsghip, since there may be individuals who may be more predisposed.

Assessment tools have limited sensitivity, and research does not address the link to multiple environmental toxic factors.

The authors point to the importance of patients' perception of illness. Simply considering the explanatory models of the patients as irrational and unreasonable will not help improve care of the patients who are distressed by their symptoms and feel let down by the medical profession. There is insufficient interdisciplinary research on these topics.

◊ A public release from Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics in September 2003, viewed from Biology-Online.org.