"Symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF) - Towards a paradigm shift regarding "idiopathic environmental intolerance" and related phenomena

Autoren

Jan Vilis Haanes
Steven Nordin
Lena Hillert
Michael Witthöft
Irene van Kamp
Christoph van Thriel
Omer Van den Bergh

DOI

10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.109955

ISSN

0022-3999

Zeitschrift

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

Sprache

en

Artikelnummer

109955

Paginierung

109955 - 109955

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published

Herausgeber

Elsevier BV

Herausgeber URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.109955

Datum der Datenerfassung

2020

Titel

“Symptoms associated with environmental factors” (SAEF) – Towards a paradigm shift regarding “idiopathic environmental intolerance” and related phenomena

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

131

Datenquelle: Crossref

Abstract

Health conditions characterized by symptoms associated with chemical, physical and biological environmental factors unrelated to objectifiable pathophysiological mechanisms are often labelled by the general term "idiopathic environmental intolerances". More specific, exposure-related terms are also used, e.g. "multiple chemical sensitivities", "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" and "candidiasis hypersensitivity". The prevalence of the conditions varies from a few up to more than 50%, depending on definitions and populations. Based on evolving knowledge within this field, we provide arguments for a paradigm shift from terms focusing on exposure and intolerance/(hyper-)sensitivity towards a term more in line with the perceptual elements that seem to underlie these phenomena. Symptoms caused by established pathophysiologic mechanisms should not be included, e.g. allergic or toxicological conditions, lactose intolerance or infections. We discuss different alternatives for a new term/concept and end up proposing an open and descriptive term, "symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF), including a definition. "Symptoms associated with environmental factors" both is in line with the current knowledge and acknowledge the experiences of the afflicted persons. Thus, the proposed concept is likely to facilitate therapy and communication between health professionals and afflicted persons, and to provide a base for better understanding of such phenomena in healthcare, society and science.

Addresses

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, NO-9038 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway. Electronic address: jvh@unn.no.

Autoren

Jan Vilis Haanes
Steven Nordin
Lena Hillert
Michael Witthöft
Irene van Kamp
Christoph van Thriel
Omer Van den Bergh

DOI

10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.109955

eISSN

1879-1360

Externe Identifier

PubMed Identifier: 32058864

Funding acknowledgements

Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research: 0396

Open access

false

ISSN

0022-3999

Zeitschrift

Journal of psychosomatic research

Sprache

eng

Medium

Print-Electronic

Online publication date

2020

Paginierung

109955

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published

Publisher licence

CC BY

Datum der Datenerfassung

2020

Titel

"Symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF) - Towards a paradigm shift regarding "idiopathic environmental intolerance" and related phenomena.

Sub types

Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

131

Datenquelle: Europe PubMed Central

Abstract

Health conditions characterized by symptoms associated with chemical, physical and biological environmental factors unrelated to objectifiable pathophysiological mechanisms are often labelled by the general term "idiopathic environmental intolerances". More specific, exposure-related terms are also used, e.g. "multiple chemical sensitivities", "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" and "candidiasis hypersensitivity". The prevalence of the conditions varies from a few up to more than 50%, depending on definitions and populations. Based on evolving knowledge within this field, we provide arguments for a paradigm shift from terms focusing on exposure and intolerance/(hyper-)sensitivity towards a term more in line with the perceptual elements that seem to underlie these phenomena. Symptoms caused by established pathophysiologic mechanisms should not be included, e.g. allergic or toxicological conditions, lactose intolerance or infections. We discuss different alternatives for a new term/concept and end up proposing an open and descriptive term, "symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF), including a definition. "Symptoms associated with environmental factors" both is in line with the current knowledge and acknowledge the experiences of the afflicted persons. Thus, the proposed concept is likely to facilitate therapy and communication between health professionals and afflicted persons, and to provide a base for better understanding of such phenomena in healthcare, society and science.

Date of acceptance

2020

Autoren

Jan Vilis Haanes
Steven Nordin
Lena Hillert
Michael Witthöft
Irene van Kamp
Christoph van Thriel
Omer Van den Bergh

Autoren-URL

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32058864

DOI

10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.109955

eISSN

1879-1360

Zeitschrift

J Psychosom Res

Schlüsselwörter

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Environmental sensitivities
Multiple chemical sensitivities
Nocebo
Paradigm shift
Symptom perception

Sprache

eng

Country

England

Paginierung

109955

PII

S0022-3999(19)31008-6

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published online

Titel

"Symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF) - Towards a paradigm shift regarding "idiopathic environmental intolerance" and related phenomena.

Sub types

Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

131

Datenquelle: PubMed

"Symptoms associated with environmental factors" (SAEF) - Towards a paradigm shift regarding "idiopathic environmental intolerance" and related phenomena

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