Document Detail


Psychological bases of symptom reporting: perceptual and emotional aspects of chemical sensitivity.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  7778110     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The reporting of physical symptoms is influenced to a large degree by psychological processes. Individuals are more likely to notice subtle sensations in environments lacking in stimulation than those demanding external attention. The beliefs or schemas that people hold dictate where and how they attend to their bodies as well. These normal perceptual processes help explain why people are often poor at accurately detecting internal physiological activity. Several individual differences are also related to the symptom reporting process. Females are more likely to base their symptom reports on external situational cues than are males. In addition, individuals with chronic anxiety--those high in Negative Affectivity (NA)--report more symptoms than those low in NA. Finally, individuals, who have had traumatic experiences, either in childhood or within 1-6 months prior to a major symptom reporting episode, tend to be high symptom reporters. Several recommendations are made to help researchers and clinicians distinguish between psychological or perceptual factors with presumed biological effects. One implication of this work is that MCS and allied syndromes should be viewed as both a mental and a physical health problem.
Authors:
J W Pennebaker
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Toxicology and industrial health     Volume:  10     ISSN:  0748-2337     ISO Abbreviation:  Toxicol Ind Health     Publication Date:    1994 Jul-Oct
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1995-07-10     Completed Date:  1995-07-10     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8602702     Medline TA:  Toxicol Ind Health     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  497-511     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Attitude to Health
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / psychology*
Perception
Personality
Psychophysiologic Disorders / psychology*
Sex Factors

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