title: The environmental hypersensitivity symptom inventory: metric properties and normative data from a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High concomitant intolerance attributed to odorous/pungent chemicals, certain buildings, electromagnetic fields (EMF), and everyday sounds calls for a questionnaire instrument that can assess symptom prevalence in various environmental intolerances. The Environmental Hypersensitivity Symptom Inventory (EHSI) was therefore developed and metrically evaluated, and normative data were established. The EHSI consists of 34 symptom items, requires limited time to respond to, and provides a detailed and broad description of the individual's symptomology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 3406 individuals who took part in the Västerbotten Environmental Health Study were used. The participants constitute a random sample of inhabitants in the county of Västerbotten in Sweden, aged 18 to 79 years, stratified for age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED FIVE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS: airway symptoms (9 items; Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 coefficient, KR-20, of internal consistency = 0.74), skin and eye symptoms (6 items; KR-20 = 0.60), cardiac, dizziness and nausea symptoms (4 items; KR-20 = 0.55), head-related and gastrointestinal symptoms (5 items; KR-20 = 0.55), and cognitive and affective symptoms (10 items; KR-20 = 0.80). The KR-20 was 0.85 for the entire 34-item EHSI. Symptom prevalence rates in percentage for having the specific symptoms every week over the preceding three months constitute normative data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EHSI can be recommended for assessment of symptom prevalence in various types of environmental hypersensitivity, and with the advantage of comparing prevalence rates with normality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå SE-90187, Sweden.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå SE-90187, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palmquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå SE-90187, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna-Sara
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Claeson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå 414 SE-90187, Sweden.
authors.forename: Berndt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stenberg
keywords: Chemical intolerance; Electromagnetic fields; Hyperacusis; Idiopathic environmental intolerance; Prevalence; Sick building syndrome