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The German Multicentre Study on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).

Dieter Eis1, Dieter Helm, Tilman Mühlinghaus

  • 1Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Berlin, Germany. EisD@rki.de

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
|May 27, 2008
PubMed
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This study found no evidence for a toxicogenic basis of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Instead, environmental medicine patients, particularly those with MCS, showed higher rates of mental disorders predating their symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Medicine
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Clinical Epidemiology

Background:

  • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a condition characterized by diverse health complaints attributed to chemical exposures.
  • The underlying pathophysiology and etiological factors of MCS remain debated, with theories ranging from toxicological to psychological origins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the etiological basis of MCS in a cohort of environmental medicine outpatients.
  • To examine potential links between MCS, genetic predisposition, olfactory function, and psychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

  • A multicentre cross-sectional study involving 291 environmental medicine outpatients in Germany.
  • Utilized environmental medicine questionnaires, psychosocial assessments, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), and specialized examinations for olfaction and genetics.

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  • Employed multiple MCS classification methods: self-reported (sMCS), clinically diagnosed (cMCS), and formalized computer-assisted (f1MCS, f2MCS).

    • Main Results:

    • No characteristic symptom set or systematic connection between complaints and triggers was identified for MCS.
    • No evidence of genetic predisposition or significant olfactory system disturbances was found in MCS patients.
    • Standardized psychiatric diagnostics revealed higher rates of mental disorders in environmental medicine patients, especially those with MCS, often preceding environmental complaints.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings do not support a toxicogenic-somatic basis for the MCS phenomenon.
    • Results suggest a greater relevance of behavioral, psychic, or psychosomatic factors in patients with subjective "environmental illness."
    • Further research into the psychological and behavioral aspects of MCS is warranted.