Diagnostik und therapie umweltbezogener körperbeschwerden - Eine übersicht der empirischen literatur

This review is based on the current empirical world literature on selected syndromes of environmental intolerances, especially on multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), and on the first experiences of environmental units based at German institutes of occupational medicine and/or hygiene. Special attention is given to the relation of environmental intolerances to somatoform disorders and to the clinically and scientifically relevant, controversial debate on the aetiology of environmental intolerances. As far as can be judged from the literature (which so far contains no controlled studies on treatment of environmental intolerances), it turns out that a non-judgemental approach which avoids the "either/or" of "psychogenic or biogenic origin" is best suited for treating these patients, especially if psychological factors are integrated early in the diagnostic process.