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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance: A Treatment Model

Michael WitthöftAnne-kathrin BräscherOmer Van Den Bergh

subject

050103 clinical psychologymedicine.medical_specialtyTreatment protocolNoceboMechanism (biology)05 social sciencesExplanatory modelHealth conditionIdiopathic environmental intolerance030227 psychiatry03 medical and health sciencesClinical Psychology0302 clinical medicineTreatment studymedicine0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesIntensive care medicinePsychologyOrgan system

description

Idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) refers to a health condition characterized by the presence of multiple symptoms in different organ systems in response to a variety of environmental cues, such as chemical exposures, electromagnetic radiation, infrasound from windmill farms, (parts of) buildings, foods, etc. Typically, the symptoms arise in response to triggers and at dosages that do not cause symptoms in the majority of people, and no clear link with any physiological dysfunction can be found. The condition varies in a dimensional way from very mild, for which no medical help is sought, to very disabling, compromising normal life. The condition is controversial, but several indications strongly suggest that the symptoms result from nocebo mechanisms. Currently, different psychological treatments are explored, but they are generally not based on a clear understanding of the aetiopathological mechanisms and the treatment effects are not well documented. In the present paper, we describe a treatment protocol based on a comprehensive explanatory model of IEI. The goal is to contribute to standardized, mechanism-based treatments as a basis for more systematic treatment studies. ispartof: Cognitive And Behavioral Practice vol:28 issue:2 pages:281-292 status: published

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2021-05-01Cognitive and Behavioral Practice
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2020.05.002