Trauma experience in individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance and individuals with somatoform disorders

Trauma experience in individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance and individuals with somatoform disorders

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Josef Bailer^{a, ,} , Michael Witthöft^a, Christiane Bayerl^b and Fred Rist^c

^aDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany ^bDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany ^cPsychological Institute I, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

Received 17 October 2006; 

revised 19 March 2007; 

accepted 20 March 2007. 

Available online 10 December 2007.

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Abstract

Objective

Results from previous studies suggest that past trauma experience increases the risk for medically unexplained somatic symptoms and somatoform disorders (SFD). This cross-sectional study examined the link between various lifetime traumas, idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI), and SFD.

Methods

Two clinical groups of 54 subjects with IEI and 44 subjects with SFD were compared to 54 subjects (comparison group, CG) free from both IEI and SFD regarding self-reported traumas. The subjects were mainly recruited via advertisements in local newspapers. From 970 individuals screened for IEI and multiple somatic symptoms, 152 were included through a two-step selection procedure consisting of screening questionnaires, a medical examination, and structured interviews for IEI and mental disorders.

Results

In all three groups at least one potential traumatic event was reported rather frequently (CG: 70%; IEI: 82%; SFD: 73%). But contrary to our expectation, significant group differences were neither found in regard to the proportion of subjects with any trauma, nor traumas fulfilling DSM-IV criteria (CG: 41%; IEI: 48%; SFD: 59%), nor multiple traumas (CG: 43%, IEI: 56%, SFD: 39%). Only two trauma categories were endorsed more frequently by the two clinical groups than by the CG: the unspecified 'other' category (IEI, SFD>CG) and 'life-threatening illness' (IEI>CG).

Conclusion

No clear evidence was found for increased rates of trauma experience in IEI and SFD. However, the results of this exploratory study should be considered as preliminary. Comparing larger IEI and SFD groups with a representative population-based sample may yield different results.

Keywords: Trauma; Sexual abuse; Idiopathic environmental intolerance; Somatoform disorders; Functional somatic syndromes; Multiple chemical sensitivity