PSYCHOLOGIC ASPECTS OF PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMS PRESUMED TO BE CAUSED BY ELECTRICITY OR VISUAL-DISPLAY UNITS

Psychologic factors were studied in 10 patients with symptoms presumed to be caused by electricity (EG) and in 10 patients with symptoms pre sumed to be caused by visual display units (VG) and compared with a se x- and age-marched control group (CG). Psychologic differences between the EG and VG were also measured. The symptoms presumed to be caused by electricity or visual display units were registered, and the person ality, psychologic functioning, and quality of life were determined by using the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), an additional Perso nality Scale (PS), a Psychological Functioning Scale (PFS), and a Qual ity of Life Scale (QLS). The results showed that the commonest general symptoms in the EG/VG were skin complaints, fatigue, pain, and dizzin ess, and the commonest oral symptoms were gustatory disturbance, burni ng mouth, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The patients in the EG described more different types of both general and oral symptoms t han those in the VG. The result showed that the VG scored significantl y higher only in the KSP Somatic Anxiety and Muscular Tension scales, and the EG scored significantly lower in the KSP Socialization scale a nd significantly higher in the Somatic Anxiety Muscular Tension, and P sychasthenia scales. In addition, only the EG differed significantly o n the PS PFS, and QLS. The EG differed significantly in such psycholog ic aspects as being more fatigued in the PS, in having more difficulty in concentrating, in taking the initiative, and in getting on with pe ople in the PFS and experiencing inactivity and visiting other people rarely in the QLS. The conclusion was that patients with symptoms pres umed to be caused by electricity and visual display units differed fro m each other psychologically and, therefore, should be handled clinica lly in different ways. The need for an interdisciplinary approach to t hese patients is emphasized.