Is the diagnosis of mass hysteria an excuse for incomplete investigation of low-level environmental contamination

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-198101000-00013· OSTI ID:6577093

Faust, H S; Brilliant, L B

Mass hysteria is an epidemic diagnostic term used to characterize unexplained outbreaks of syncope among women. A syncope outbreak among women in a meeting in a rural area of Michigan prompted an intense investigation for etiology. Low levels of ozone, carbon monoxide, and pentane were found associated with the outbreak. These levels were too low by themselves to explain the symptoms. A sociometric scale of intensity of illness was devised and found to be highly correlated (r = -0.94) with the weight of those who fainted. It is argued that mass hysteria may be the result of interactions of low levels of toxicants and may not be a result of the hysterical behavior in women at all.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• OSTI ID: 6577093
• Journal Information: J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Vol. 23:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
WOMEN
BEHAVIOR
CARBON MONOXIDE
CORRELATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
HEALTH HAZARDS
OZONE
PENTANE
WEIGHT
ALKANES
ANIMALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
FEMALES
HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
MAMMALS
MAN
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)