Two previously unpublished outbreaks of Mass Psychogenic Illness (MPI) in I
taly are reported. The first outbreak involved 427 female workers at an ele
ctro-mechanical plant. Workers complained of work-related stressors, and hi
gh levels of conflict: between their job and home duties. We conclude that
the episode resulted from the interaction of environmental and work-related
factors, the persons and the social organization of the workplace. The sec
ond case is one in which risk of MPI developing seems to have been successf
ully prevented. An effective stress coping strategy, coupled with workplace
improvement, may have succeeded in eliminating cases of illness and preven
ting an outbreak of MPI.