Epidemiological study (observational study)

Psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life in idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields epidem.

By: Kjellqvist A, Palmquist E, Nordin S

Published in: J Psychosom Res 2016; 84: 8-12

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sweden to evaluate psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons who attribute health problems to electromagnetic fields.

Further details

Psychological symptoms were assessed with 6 subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with 8 subscales of the SF-36 Health Survey.
Results from the anxiety, depression, and somatization subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90 have been published by Johansson et al. (2010)

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

psychological symptoms (obsessive–compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychoticism) and health-related quality of life (vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social role functioning, mental health)

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

Exposure

- magnetic field
- EMF general
- PC/TV monitor
- other domestic appliance
- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Assessment

questionnaire: electrical devices which induce symptoms

Population

Group:
- men
- women
Observation period: not stated
Study location: Sweden

Study size

Type	Value
Total	218

Other:

114 partipants with IEI-EMF and 104 population-based controls without symptoms

Statistical analysis method:

Chi-square test
t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Spearman correlation test, Bonferroni correction for multiple testing

Results (acc. to author)

Significantly higher scores were found on obsessive/compulsive behavior, interpersonal hypersensitivity, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid thoughts in the IEI-EMF group compared to control, whereas the difference for psychoticism was non-significant. Furthermore, significant poorer health-related quality of life in the IEI-EMF group, compared to the control group, was found regarding physical and social functioning, physical and emotional role limitations, general health, vitality, bodily pain, and mental health. Scores on several of the SCL-90 subscales were found to correlate negatively and significantly with scores on several of the SF-36 scales in both groups, i.e. psychological symptoms went along with poor health-related quality of life.
The authors conclude that IEI-EMF is associated with various types of psychological symptoms and with poor health-related quality of life.

Study funded by

Center for Environmental Research (CMF), Umea University, Sweden

Johansson A et al. (2010): Symptoms, personality traits, and stress in people with mobile phone-related symptoms and electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Kaul G (2009): [Is there an ability to perceive or to be sensitive on?]
Hillert L et al. (2008): The effects of 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on headache and other symptoms: an experimental provocation study
Heinrich S et al. (2007): [Electromagnetic fields of a UMTS mobile phone base station and possible effects on health - results from an experimental field study]
Eltiti S et al. (2007): Does short-term exposure to mobile phone base station signals increase symptoms in individuals who report sensitivity to electromagnetic fields? A double-blind randomized provocation study
Wilen J et al. (2006): Psychophysiological tests and provocation of subjects with mobile phone related symptoms
Rubin GJ et al. (2006): Are some people sensitive to mobile phone signals? Within participants double blind randomised provocation study
Oftedal G et al. (2000): Symptoms experienced in connection with mobile phone use