Can allergic exposure provoke psychological symptoms? A double-blind test.
Clinical ecologists report that exposure to allergens can induce cognitive and emotional symptoms as well as somatic symptoms in susceptible individuals, but controlled tests are meager. In a test of the hypothesis that sublingual exposure to allergens would produce cognitive-emotional symptoms in allergy patients, double-blind provocative testing was conducted at an allergy clinic; 30 allergy patients complaining of at least one psychological symptom were selected. Self-report, heart-rate, and several mood and psychological performance measures were obtained. MMPI scores indicated a pathological sample. Reported cognitive-emotional symptoms were greater for allergens than for placebos (p = 0.001), while placebo symptoms were equal to base rate. Greater variability of heart rate change was found for allergens than for placebos (p = 0.008). Severe reactions occurred more frequently to allergens (p = 0.008). Severe reactions occurred more frequently to allergens (p = 0.02). Other dependent measures were not affected by the allergens or the placebos. It is concluded that allergens may contribute to psychopathology in some individuals.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos
D000485:Allergens; D010919:Placebos