TY - JOUR

T1 - Negative affect is associated with development and persistence of chemical intolerance

T2 - A prospective population-based study

AU - Skovbjerg, Sine

AU - Christensen, Karl Bang

AU - Ebstrup, Jeanette Frost

AU - Linneberg, Allan

AU - Zachariae, Robert

AU - Elberling, Jesper

N1 - Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/5

Y1 - 2015/5

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Chemical intolerance (CI) is characterised by negative health effects attributed to a heightened responsiveness to common airborne chemicals. This longitudinal study explored the hypothesised role of negative affect in the development and persistence of CI in a general population.METHODS: A general population sample aged 19 to 72years was examined in 2006-2008 and again in 2011-2012. Longitudinal data on CI were analysed with the purpose of examining baseline negative affect as a risk factor for having developed CI at 5-year follow-up and for reporting persistent CI. Participants were classified as reporting no signs of CI, having symptoms of CI and as being a likely CI case based on self-reported reactions to 11 common chemical exposures, symptoms related to chemical exposures and daily life adjustments attributed to reactions when exposed to chemicals.RESULTS: A total of 69.4% of the participants who had reported CI at baseline also reported CI at follow-up. In participants with no baseline CI, 15.5% reported CI at follow-up and 18.1% reported symptoms related to chemicals but no daily life adjustments. Baseline negative affect was positively and statistically significantly associated with both development and persistence of CI.CONCLUSIONS: Initial reports of CI were found to be persistent over time, and a considerable proportion of the participants with no CI at baseline reported having developed CI after 5years. The positive association between negative affect and CI at the 5-year follow-up supports negative affect as a possible risk factor for CI.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Chemical intolerance (CI) is characterised by negative health effects attributed to a heightened responsiveness to common airborne chemicals. This longitudinal study explored the hypothesised role of negative affect in the development and persistence of CI in a general population.METHODS: A general population sample aged 19 to 72years was examined in 2006-2008 and again in 2011-2012. Longitudinal data on CI were analysed with the purpose of examining baseline negative affect as a risk factor for having developed CI at 5-year follow-up and for reporting persistent CI. Participants were classified as reporting no signs of CI, having symptoms of CI and as being a likely CI case based on self-reported reactions to 11 common chemical exposures, symptoms related to chemical exposures and daily life adjustments attributed to reactions when exposed to chemicals.RESULTS: A total of 69.4% of the participants who had reported CI at baseline also reported CI at follow-up. In participants with no baseline CI, 15.5% reported CI at follow-up and 18.1% reported symptoms related to chemicals but no daily life adjustments. Baseline negative affect was positively and statistically significantly associated with both development and persistence of CI.CONCLUSIONS: Initial reports of CI were found to be persistent over time, and a considerable proportion of the participants with no CI at baseline reported having developed CI after 5years. The positive association between negative affect and CI at the 5-year follow-up supports negative affect as a possible risk factor for CI.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.02.005

DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.02.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25758214

VL - 78

SP - 509

EP - 514

JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

SN - 0022-3999

IS - 5

ER -