Environmental Illness: A controlled study of 26 subjects with 20th Century Disease

Journal Article · Wed Dec 26 00:00:00 EST 1990 · JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1990.03450240068042· OSTI ID:5590882

Black, D W; Rathe, A; Goldstein, R B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City (USA)

Environmental illness is a polysymptomatic disorder believed by clinical ecologists to result from immune dysregulation brought on by common foods and chemicals. The authors systematically evaluated 26 subjects who had been assigned a diagnosis of environmental illness. The subjects indicated a strong interest in their diagnosis, were generally satisfied with their clinical ecologist, and were dissatisfied with traditional medical approaches. Subjects reported varying treatments, including dietary restrictions, avoidance of offending agents, and physical treatments. Using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, they found that 15 (65%) of 23 subjects met criteria for a current or past mood, anxiety, or somatoform disorder compared with 13 (28%) of 46 age- and sex-matched community controls. They conclude that patients receiving this diagnosis may have one or more commonly recognized psychiatric disorders that could explain some or all of their symptoms.

• OSTI ID: 5590882
• Journal Information: JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association; (United States), Vol. 264:24; ISSN 0098-7484
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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