HUMAN DRUG DISCRIMINATION AND MULTIPLE CHEMICAL-SENSITIVITY - CAFFEINE EXPOSURE AS AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL

Multiple chemical sensitivity is a controversial diagnosis. Rigorous, controlled, laboratory-based research can reduce this controversy and lead to potential clinical confirmatory tests. The literature on human caffeine discrimination provides a rigorous methodology that can addr ess reports that patients who suffer multiple chemical sensitivity (MC S) are sensitive to usually well-tolerated chemical doses; the studies require patients to discriminate caffeine from placebo under double-b lind conditions. Several issues relevant to the conduct of caffeine di scrimination studies using MCS patients as subjects are addressed; the se issues include study design, determination oi safe and tolerable tr aining doses, and discrimination training. Such research will benefit patients and clinicians dealing with a diagnosis of MCS.