An idiographic approach to idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) part I. Environmental, psychosocial and clinical assessment of three individuals with severe IEI-EMF

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09987
• Publication Date: 2022-07-16T10:09:39Z
• Authors: Zsuzsanna Dömötör; Zsuzsanna Szabolcs; Márk Bérdi; Michael Witthöft; Ferenc Köteles; Renáta Szemerszky
• Keywords: Nomothetic; Stressor

IEI-EMF refers to an environmental illness whose primary feature is the occurrence of symptoms that are attributed exposure weak electromagnetic fields (EMFs). There a growing evidence this condition characterized by marked individual differences thus within-subject approach might add important information beyond widely used nomothetic method. A mixed qualitative/quantitative idiographic protocol with threefold diagnostic was tested participation three individuals severe IEI-EMF. In qualitative paper, environmental, psychosocial, and clinical aspects presented discussed (results ecological momentary assessment in Part II study). For two participants, psychopathological factors appeared be strongly related condition. Psychological indicated pre-psychotic state paranoid tendencies, supplemented strong attentional focus on bodily sensations health status. The psychological profile third showed no obvious pathology. Overall, findings suggest have uniformly been triggered serious psychosocial stress for all participants. Substantial aetiological among participants were revealed. substantial heterogeneity profiles associated warrants use multimodal assessments order better understand different ways aetiology facilitate person-taylored treatments.