title: Psychologic and somatic interrelationships in allergy and pseudoallergy.
abstract: A wide range of mental, behavioral, and nonspecific subjective somatic symptoms can be observed commonly in the course of the classic allergic diseases of the atopic syndrome (asthma, rhinitis, eczema, etc). These symptoms do not necessarily imply the presence of psychiatric disorder, nor do they indicate that allergic processes have a direct effect on cerebral function. These changes are the indirect result of the allergy and are usually secondary to extracerebral physical dysfunctions. The potential importance of the cerebral effects of hypoxemia in asthma, and of the central nervous system side effects of antiallergy medication, has received inadequate attention and requires more research. Failure to recognize the true significance of such valid clinical observations, combined with failure to recognize the importance of the use of techniques to overcome the effects of the placebo, suggestion, and observer bias have led to several misconceptions concerning the role of foods and inhalants in psychiatric and somatic syndromes unassociated with atopy. It is apparent that publicity directed to such views, and the use of unorthodox or unproven "allergy" procedures, can cause significant harm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Manchester, England.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*