One Single Question Is not Sufficient to Identify Individuals With Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

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dc.contributor.authorSzemerszky Renáta
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-13T11:11:35Z
dc.date.available2024-05-13T11:11:35Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractBackground: Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to Electromagnetic Fields (IEI-EMF) is a self-reported condition where non-specific symptoms are attributed to weak non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. Despite its expanding prevalence, there is no generally accepted diagnostic procedure or definition to identify patients with this condition, thus studies usually apply only one question as inclusion criterion. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the heterogeneity of a self-reported IEI-EMF group and to identify further self-report questions that could be applied as inclusion criteria. Method: Cross-sectional on-line survey study was carried out with 473 participants (76.3% women; age: 35.03 ± 13.24 yrs). Self-diagnosed IEI-EMF (as assessed with a yes-or-no question), frequency of EMF-related symptom and severity of the condition were assessed, as well as somatic symptom distress (Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Severity Scale, PHQ-15). Results: 72 (15.2%) individuals labelled themselves as IEI-EMF, however only 61% of them remained in the IEI-EMF group after the use of three inclusion criteria instead of one. 21% of the individuals labelling themselves as IEI-EMF reported neither symptoms nor any negative impact on their daily life. Conclusion: A minimum of two questions appear to be necessary as inclusion criteria for IEI-EMF in empirical research. Instead of the widely used yes-or-no question on accepting the IEI-EMF label, occurrence of symptoms attributed to EMF on a regular basis and at least a slight negative impact on daily life are required.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.v1i4.35668
dc.identifier.issn2625-3410
dc.identifier.mtmt31821476
dc.identifier.urihttps://krepozit.kre.hu/handle/123456789/1157
dc.language.isoen
dc.relation.ispartofSzemerszky, Renáta ; Dömötör, Zsuzsanna ; Köteles, Ferenc Clinical Psychology in Europe 1 : 4 Paper: e35668 , 11 p. (2019)
dc.titleOne Single Question Is not Sufficient to Identify Individuals With Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity
dc.typeArticle
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