Effects of Psychopathology on the Characteristics of Individuals with Self-reported Electromagnetic Field Hypersensitivity

精神病理對自述電磁波過敏者的特徵的影響

曾美智(Meg Mei-Chih Tseng) ； 林宜平(Yi-Ping Lin) ； 鄭尊仁(Tsun-Jen Cheng)

《台灣精神醫學》 28卷1期 (2014/03) Pp. iii+27-37

摘要

Objective: Individuals with electro-magnetic hypersensitivity have been reported to have characteristics overlapped with some psychiatric conditions, but the relationship between psychiatric morbidity and electro-magnetic hypersensitivity remains unclear. Here we intended to study the effects of psychopathology on the characteristics of electromagnetic hypersensitivity in a randomized sample of individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance with attribution to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF). Methods: We identified individuals in Taiwan with self-reported IEI-EMF (n=170) in a nationwide telephone survey (n=1,197) on the perception of risks from various environmental agents. The telephone interview questions contained demography, presence of catastrophic illness, self-reported health condition, functional impairment, medical utilization, and risk perception from 13 environmental agents. Individuals with psychiatric conditions were identified using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale-5 (n=190). Of them, 49 persons were comorbid with self-reported IEI-EMF. Results: We found that individuals with IEI-EMF shared features with those with psychiatric conditions including inability to work and impairment of daily activities. Co-occurring psychopathology significantly increased the severity of poor self-reported health condition, and the degree of sensitivity to EMF among individuals with IEI-EMF. More severe degree of psychopathology was associated with significantly increased medical utilization (p＜0.001), non-employment (p＜0.001), and impairment in daily activity (p＜0.001), whereas the severe degree of electrosensitivity was significantly associated with non-employment only (p＜0.05). Conclusion: Commonly reported features of IEI-EMF were mainly predicted by the degree of psychopathology instead of the degree of sensitivity to EMF. Treating anxiety and depression in individuals with IEI-EMF may help improve these clinical features.

關鍵字

電磁場 ； 電磁波過敏 ； 環境疾病 ； 精神病理

並列摘要

Objective: Individuals with electro-magnetic hypersensitivity have been reported to have characteristics overlapped with some psychiatric conditions, but the relationship between psychiatric morbidity and electro-magnetic hypersensitivity remains unclear. Here we intended to study the effects of psychopathology on the characteristics of electromagnetic hypersensitivity in a randomized sample of individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance with attribution to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF). Methods: We identified individuals in Taiwan with self-reported IEI-EMF (n=170) in a nationwide telephone survey (n=1,197) on the perception of risks from various environmental agents. The telephone interview questions contained demography, presence of catastrophic illness, self-reported health condition, functional impairment, medical utilization, and risk perception from 13 environmental agents. Individuals with psychiatric conditions were identified using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale-5 (n=190). Of them, 49 persons were comorbid with self-reported IEI-EMF. Results: We found that individuals with IEI-EMF shared features with those with psychiatric conditions including inability to work and impairment of daily activities. Co-occurring psychopathology significantly increased the severity of poor self-reported health condition, and the degree of sensitivity to EMF among individuals with IEI-EMF. More severe degree of psychopathology was associated with significantly increased medical utilization (p＜0.001), non-employment (p＜0.001), and impairment in daily activity (p＜0.001), whereas the severe degree of electrosensitivity was significantly associated with non-employment only (p＜0.05). Conclusion: Commonly reported features of IEI-EMF were mainly predicted by the degree of psychopathology instead of the degree of sensitivity to EMF. Treating anxiety and depression in individuals with IEI-EMF may help improve these clinical features.

並列關鍵字

electromagnetic fields ； electromagnetic hypersensitivity ； environmental illness ； psychopathology

參考文獻

Hung, YT、Huang, YC(2001)。Telephone sampling: random digit dialing in Taiwan。Election Research。7，173-84。

Aaron, LA,Buchwald, D(2001).A review of the evidence for overlap among unexplained clinical conditions.Ann Intern Med.134,868-81.

Berg, M,Bengt, A(1996).An occupational study of employees with VDU-associated symptoms: the importance of stress.Stress Med.12,51-4.

Bergdahl, J,Stenberg, B,Eriksson, N,Linden, G,Widman, L(2004).Coping and self-image in patients with visual display terminal-related skin symptoms and perceived hypersensitivity to electricity.Int Arch Occup Environ Health.77,538-42.

Bergqvist, U,Vogel, E,Aringer, L(1997).Possible Health Implications of Subjective Symptoms and Electromagnetic Fields.A Report Prepared by a European Group of Experts for the European Commission.(A Report Prepared by a European Group of Experts for the European Commission).,::National Institute for Working Life.