Abstract
Rationale Since patients with Idiopathic Environmental Intolerances frequently report unspecific polysomatic complaints effected by odorants we addressed the question if they differ from subjectively olfactory sensitive subjects not reporting IEI and subjectively insensitive controls regarding chemosensory, cognitive and clinical psychological parameters. Methods In an age-and-gender matched case control study 23 patients with IEI, 21 subjectively olfactory sensitive subjects and 23 subjectively insensitive controls have been investigated. Chemosensory event related potentials (CSERP) have been recorded and the olfactory threshold for n-butanol and the odor identification have been determinated by means of Sniffin' Sticks. A trigeminal provocation with menthol by lateralized stimulus presentation has been performed. Psychometric instruments such as a questionnaire about subjective feeling regarding olfactometry, the List of Complaints (BL), the Symptom Check List 90 Revised (SCL-90-R), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-G) and the MCS-questionnaire regarding symptoms and triggers were filled in by the participants. Results The olfactometric investigations showed no significant differences between the study groups. The IEI collective reached significantly higher scores on negative subjective feeling regarding olfactometry, on subjective health complaints (BL), on global indices and the somatization subscale of the SCL-90-R, on state anxiety and on symptoms and triggers of the MCS Questionnaire. Conclusions Our findings revealed that there are no changes in olfactory performance, central chemosensory and cognitive olfactory information processing in patients with IEI. They support previous findings of changes in the psychological profile and elevated clinical psychopathological parameters in IEI in these patients.
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