Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Stenn, Peter; Binkley, Karen

doi:10.1016/s0033-3182(98)71335-0

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Cases of ''chemical sensitivity'' have been successfully treated with desensitization and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment [Stenn and Binkely, 1998]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive impairment and olfactory panic from occupational exposure to VOCs

Reinhartz

2006

American J Industrial Med

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“…Cases of ''chemical sensitivity'' have been successfully treated with desensitization and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment [Stenn and Binkely, 1998]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive impairment and olfactory panic from occupational exposure to VOCs

Reinhartz

2006

American J Industrial Med

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“…The condition of hyperventilation can occur in response to a trigger (often the detection of an odor), and the resulting hypocarbia could account for some of the reported MCS symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also can produce symptoms similar to those reported by MCS patients (Stenn and Binkley 1998). Many MCS patients have a history of a childhood psychological stress that some believe could be the source of the PTSD-like symptoms (Loewenstein 1990;Staudenmayer, Selner, and Selner 1993).…”

Section: Psychogenic Versus Toxicodynamicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is growing evidence suggesting that many MCS symptoms have a psychogenic basis (Brodsky 1984;Kurt 1995;Gothe, Odont, and Nilsson 1995;Leznoff 1997;Stenn and Binkley 1998;Siegel and Kreutzer 1997). The term "somatization" has been used to describe a set of symptoms that arise from a wide variety of emotional factors; these widespread symptoms are similar to those reported by MCS patients (Gothe, Odont, and Nilsson 1995;Dorland 1994).…”

Section: Psychogenic Versus Toxicodynamicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other authors have suggested that MCS can be characterized by anxiety and phobic avoidance of perceived triggers (Guglielmi, Cox, and Spyker 1994;Selner and Staudenmayer 1992;Stenn and Binkley 1998). The condition of hyperventilation can occur in response to a trigger (often the detection of an odor), and the resulting hypocarbia could account for some of the reported MCS symptoms.…”

Section: Psychogenic Versus Toxicodynamicmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: Psychogenic or Toxicodynamic Origins

Gots

Pirages

1999

Int J Toxicol

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The multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) phenomenon can cause signi cant dysfunction and symptomatology and presents a difcult challenge for patient management. Central to the MCS debate is whether this phenomenon results from a primary emotional response to perceived chemical exposures or from pathological interactions between chemicals and biological systems. Those who believe the latter argue that toxic interactions result in physiological impairment and that subsequent emotional problems derive from such impairment. Distinguishing between psychogenic (emotional) or a toxicodynamic (chemical toxicity) origin is essential to the medical management of an MCS patient. A psychogenic basis requires treatment with appropriate behavioral therapies; in contrast, a belief in a strictly toxicodynamic etiology argues for avoidance and often precludes treatments that address the psychological responses. Current scienti c evidence strongly suggests that behavioral or psychogenic explanations predominate for reported MCS symptoms. Acceptance of a purely toxic origination (i.e., pathological abnormalities result from a low level chemical exposure) de es known toxicological and medical principles; whereas psychogenic explanations are consistent with these principles. Because symptoms are the end points of many diseases with many causes, both physical and emotional, modern medicine is charged with and expected to consider both when treating MCS patients. The argument can be made that insuf cient information exists about the causal nature of many diseases, and future research may provide support for a strict toxicodynamic cause. However, the practice of medicine must be based upon current knowledge, not future possibilities. Proper care of MCS patients requires identifying the existence of both psychological and organic pathological dysfunction. The rejection of a psychological aspect of the MCS phenomenon and appropriate behavioral treatments is both illogical and detrimental to MCS sufferers.

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“…Both environmental and psychological aspects of the disorder have been identified. The psychological aspects may include similarities to panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (Miller, 1997; Stenn & Binkley, 1998). Other authors (e.g., Bell, Peterson, & Schwartz, 1995) have identified that persons suffering from the disorder may experience psychological as well as organic causation.…”

Section: Mcs Characteristics and Diagnostic Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accommodating chemically sensitive people in the workplace.

Tranquillo¹,

Lowman²

1998

The Psychologist-Manager Journal

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This article describes some features, both medical and psychological, of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), a condition believed to be associated with reactions to multiple environmental chemicals and pollutants. The nature and some of the controversies associated with MCS, a disability recognized by Workers' Compensation and the Social Security Administration, are reviewed in this article. Some types of accommodations that may be provided to MCS patients under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are described in this article along with the condition's managerial implications.

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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Cited by 8 publications

References 5 publications

Cognitive impairment and olfactory panic from occupational exposure to VOCs

Cognitive impairment and olfactory panic from occupational exposure to VOCs

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: Psychogenic or Toxicodynamic Origins

Accommodating chemically sensitive people in the workplace.

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