SYMPTOM AND PERSONALITY PROFILES OF YOUNG-ADULTS FROM A COLLEGE-STUDENT POPULATION WITH SELF-REPORTED ILLNESS FROM FOODS AND CHEMICALS

Despite much debate over a presumptively somatic vs psychological etio logy of nonatopic food and chemical sensitivities, little systematic r esearch has addressed the issues. The present study investigated self- reported illness from several common foods (wheat, dairy, eggs) and ch emicals (pesticide, car exhaust, paint, perfume, new carpet), symptom patterns, and psychological profiles of a sample of young adult colleg e students (n = 490, age 19.4 +/- 2.4, 52% female/48% male). Subjects were divided into 4 groups on the basis of sample medians for frequenc y of illness from the foods (FI) and chemicals (CI): high FI with high CI (FI/CI), high FI alone, high CI alone, and NOILL (low FI and CI). FI was associated with more defensiveness (denial of negativity) while CI was linked with more shyness (avoidance of novelty). Women outnumb ered men in all groups (FI/CI: 61%; FI: 80% ; CI: 55%) except the NOIL L (40% women). Nevertheless, the FI/CI, FI, and/or CI groups still had significantly higher total symptom scores as well as more indigestion , headache, and memory trouble than did the NOILL group, even after de pression, anxiety, shyness, defensiveness, and gender were covaried. T he illness groups reported significantly more limitation of foods that mobilize endogenous opioids or generate exogenous opioids (sweets, fa ts, bread) as well as more illness from opiate drugs, small amounts of beverage alcohol, and late meals. Nasal symptoms from pollens or anim als were more common in the FI/CI (42%) and CI (42%) than in FI (26%) or NOILL (28%) groups. Premenstrual tension syndrome and irritable bow el were also more common in the FI/CI group. The findings indicate tha t young adults outside the clinical setting who are relatively higher in FI and/or CI have distinctive symptom and psychological patterns. C ovariate analyses suggest that important symptoms in FI and CI individ uals such as indigestion, headache, and memory problems may occur in a ddition to rather than as simply part of emotional distress. The data are consistent with a previously hypothesized role of olfactory-limbic and hypothalamic pathways and with a time-dependent sensitization mod el for illness from foods and chemicals.