| 51. |
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| 52. |
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| 53. |
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| 54. |
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| 55. |
- Persson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
-
The influence of personality traits on neuropsychological test performance and self-reported health and social context in women
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Personality and Individual Differences. - 1873-3549. ; 34:2, s. 295-313
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relationship between on the one hand personality traits and, on the other hand, neuropsychological test performance, self-rated distress symptoms, psychosocial work exposure, and social interaction patterns, was studied in a group of healthy women (N= 101). All subjects completed the Karolinska Scales of Personality inventory (KSP) and the majority of the subjects (n = 88) completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Scale (STAI-T). Few relationships between personality traits and neuropsychological test results were observed. According to expectations age and education influenced neuropsychological test performance. As for the rating inventories, the high-anxiety half of the subjects typically reported more symptoms and lower social interaction scores than the low-anxiety half. The results suggest that reporting in Euro-Quest (EQ), General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30), Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI) and the Job Content Questionnaire are sensitive to differences in trait anxiety levels as defined by STAI-T or the psychic anxiety scale in the KSP inventory. The broad impact of trait anxiety on symptom reporting indicates the importance of checking for and possibly controlling for this dimension. Furthermore, the ISSI and JCQ inventories should not be thought of as assessing social circumstances independently from personality traits such as social desirability. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 56. |
- Persson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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The influence of production systems on self-reported arousal, sleepiness, physical exertion and fatigue-consequences of increasing mechanization
- 2003
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Ingår i: Stress and Health. - : Wiley. - 1532-3005. ; 19:3, s. 163-171
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study examined the capability of a real-time assessment routine to sort out the individual impact of three production systems on psychological activation as measured by the Stress/Energy Inventory, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, Borg's CR-10 Perceived Exertion scale, and the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory. Sixteen women between the ages of 26 and S7 years (mean 43 years) rotated in a counterbalanced order between three production systems: A, B and C. The systems produced the same goods but clearly differed in degree of automation and ergonomic demands. The results show that work at the most automated production system, C, on average generated lower energy index scores and higher sleepiness scores compared to the oldest system, A. Clear weekly and diurnal patterns were found for most rating measures. To conclude, the increasing automation of the production systems is reflected in psychological activation by dampening feelings of positively valued high activity states and increased sleepiness. The expressions of a weekly and diurnal psychological activation, indicates that the subjects are able to unwind both during the weekend and after work, and suggest that the present method is suitable for studying the immediate psychological adaptation to the social and physical work environment. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.
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| 57. |
- Persson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
-
The meta-contrast technique: relationships with personality traits and cognitive abilities in a healthy male study sample.
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. - : Wiley. - 1467-9450 .- 0036-5564. ; 43:4, s. 315-324
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relationship between defensive strategies as measured by the Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT) and self-reported trait anxiety, trait aggression and defensiveness, as measured by the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), was investigated in 83 healthy men. Further aims of the study were to describe and document how a healthy and demographically well defined group of subjects responded to the MCT, and to investigate whether age, personality traits and cognitive abilities influenced the reports of picture recognition thresholds in the MCT. The results indicated no agreement between the conceptualization of anxiety as measured by the MCT and anxiety as measured by the KSP inventory. Nor was there any agreement between defensive strategies in the MCT and trait defensiveness as defined with the KSP. However, age, personality traits, and cognitive abilities all contributed to explain the variations in the threshold values of recognition of stimuli pictures, all of which are of central importance in the scoring of MCT protocols.
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| 58. |
- Persson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
-
The Meta-Contrast Technique: relationships with personality traits and cognitive abilities in healthy women.
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. - : Wiley. - 1467-9450 .- 0036-5564. ; 46:2, s. 169-177
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relationship between test results from the Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT) and self-reports from Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), or the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), was investigated in 100 healthy women. Additionally, it was investigated whether age and cognitive abilities influenced the reports of picture recognition thresholds in the MCT. The results showed no agreement between the different ways to assess anxiety and defensiveness. However, age consistently predicted later reports of the perceptual recognition thresholds A1 (the car), A2 (the face) and C-phase. The WAIS-R Digit Symbol Score predicted earlier reporting of the recognition thresholds A1 and A2, but did not predict the final criteria for correct recognition (C-phase). The KSP aggression factor only predicted an earlier report of recognition threshold A2. The absence of a simple relationship between the different ways to assess anxiety and defensiveness, and the observed relationships regarding perceptual threshold levels, corroborates previous findings.
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| 59. |
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| 60. |
- Poulsen, Otto Melchior, et al.
(författare)
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Distribution of subjective health complaints, and their association with register based sickness absence in the Danish working population
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1651-1905 .- 1403-4948. ; 41:2, s. 150-157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: To describe the distribution of subjective health complaints (SHCs) in a Danish working population and the associations between SHC and register based sickness absence. Methods: The study entailed 2876 men and 3574 women aged 18–59 years that constituted the 2005 panel in the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study (DWECS). All had completed a subjective health complaints inventory and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Seven SHC/NMQ indices were constructed and merged with subsequently collected data on prolonged sickness absence periods (each period > 14 days) that was registered in the national Danish register on social transfer payments: the DREAM register. Ordinal logistic regression was used to model the cumulative odds for sickness absence as a function of strata. Results: The majority of participants reported at least one SHC during a 30-day period (circa 89% of the men and 95% of the women). The reports of severe SHC, defined as recurring SHC within the 30-day period, were less common. About 55% of the men and 68% of the women reported at least one severe SHC during a 30-day period. The odds ratios of sickness absence increased with the number of SHC a participant acknowledged. The odds ratios were slightly reduced after adjusting for age, disease history and social class. Conclusions: The majority of the working population in Denmark report at least one SHC during a 30-day period. Roughly half of the population report having at least one recurrent (often to very often) SHC during the last 30-days (severe SHC). Reporting the presence of several SHCs increases the likelihood of having more prospectively registered periods of sickness absence above two weeks.
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| 61. |
- Sjöstedt, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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A follow-up study of laboratory animal exposed workers: the influence of atopy for the development of occupational asthma
- 1993
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Ingår i: American Journal of Industrial Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0271-3586 .- 1097-0274. ; 24:4, s. 459-469
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In a 5-year follow-up study of 88 animal exposed laboratory technicians, the incidence of laboratory animal allergy (LAA), lung function, and the development of allergy test reactivity were investigated. Only two individuals developed test positive LAA rhinitis during the follow-up period. Furthermore, one subject who had previously had LAA rhinitis developed LAA asthma. In the remaining subjects the results of skin prick tests against laboratory animals and environmental allergens, total serum IgE levels, and lung function were unchanged. Atopy defined as parental and childhood allergy, raised total serum IgE levels, and positive skin prick tests against nonanimal environmental allergens and nonlaboratory animals (dog and horse) were risk indicators for development of test positive LAA asthma. The low incidence of LAA during the 5-year follow-up is interpreted as a result of an early LAA development in atopic subjects.
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| 62. |
- van den Berg, Johannes, 1962-
(författare)
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Indicators and predictors of sleepiness
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sleep is a basic need as important as physical fitness and good nutrition. Without enough sleep, we will create a sleep debt and experience sleepiness. Sleepiness can be defined as the inability to stay awake, a condition that has become a health problem in our 24-hour-7-day-a-week society. Estimates suggest that up to one-third of the population suffers from excessive sleepiness. Among other interactions, sleepiness affects our performance, increasing the risk of being involved in accidents. A considerable portion of work related accidents and injuries are related to sleepiness resulting in large costs for the individuals and society. Professional drivers are one example of workers who are at risk of sleepiness related accidents. Up to 40% of heavy truck accidents could be related to sleepiness. A better knowledge about reliable indicators and predictors of sleepiness is important in preventing sleepiness related accidents.This thesis investigates both objective and subjective indicators of sleepiness, how these relate to each other, and how their pattern changes over time. The indicators investigated were electroencephalography, heart rate variability, simple reaction time, head movement, and subjective ratings of sleepiness (Study I-IV). In Study V, a questionnaire study was conducted with professional drivers in northern Sweden. This study mainly deals with predictors of sleepiness. When subjects were sleep deprived both objective and subjective ratings indicated a rapid increase in sleepiness during the first hour of the test followed by a levelling off. This change in pattern was evident for all the indicators except heart rate and heart rate variability. On the other hand, HRV was correlated with the increase of EEG parameters during the post-test sleep period. The changes in pattern of the indicators included in the thesis are analysed in the perspective of temporal patterns and relationships. Of the tested indicators, a subjective rating of sleepiness with CR-10 was considered to be the most reliable indicator of sleepiness. Of the investigated predictors of sleepiness, prior sleep habits were found to be strongly associated to sleepiness and the sleepiness related symptoms while driving. The influences of driving conditions and individual characteristics on sleepiness while driving were lower. A multidisciplinary approach when investigating and implementing indicators and predictors of sleepiness is important. In addition to their actual relations to the development of sleepiness, factors such as technical and practical limitations, work, and individual and situational needs must be taken into account.
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| 63. |
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| 64. |
- Åbjörnsson, Gunnel, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term follow-up of psychological distress, social functioning, and coping style in treated and untreated patients with solvent-induced chronic toxic encephalopathy
- 1998
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1536-5948. ; 40:9, s. 801-807
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Patients with organic solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy (TE) (n = 13) were followed up seven years after the application of an intervention program. They were also compared with untreated TE patients diagnosed at the same time (n = 26) and with unexposed referents (n = 39). Psychological distress, social function, and coping ability and style were measured with the Symptom Checklist-90, Interview Schedule of Social Interaction, and Sense of Coherence and Strategies to Handle Stress questionnaires. Both TE groups had unchanged function in neuropsychological tests. Members of the treated group had improved their social functioning and reduced their mental stress but were not any better than the untreated patients. Compared with referents, the TE patients continued to live with increased psychological distress and used predominantly emotionally focused strategies to cope with their problems. This can be a cause for concern in family life and can also make gainful work impossible.
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| 65. |
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| 66. |
- Örbaek, Palle
(författare)
-
Att förebygga arbetsrelaterad stress en utmaning även för läkarkåren
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Läkartidningen. - 0023-7205. ; 99:15, s. 5-1664
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Att förebygga ohälsa som följd av arbetsrelaterad stress är en utmaning även för läkarkåren. Stress kan utlösa flera allvarliga sjukdomar, bl a metabola rubbningar, sömnstörningar och CNS-dysfunktion.
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| 67. |
- Örbaek, Palle, et al.
(författare)
-
Impact of trait anxiety and social conformity on responses to experimental chemical challenge
- 2005
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-7077 .- 1382-6689. ; 19:3, s. 659-664
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study examined the impact of trait anxiety and social conformity on ratings and test performance during controlled solvent challenge. Healthy women (n = 20) and men (n = 18) were exposed to increasing levels of toluene and n-butyl acetate in a challenge chamber, during which they repeatedly rated smell intensity and annoyance, and completed neurobehavioral tests. Trait anxiety was measured by the Psychasthenia scale of the Karolinska, Scales of Personality (KSP), and social conformity by the KSP Social Desirability scale. Among women, high Psychasthenia was related to higher increase in ratings of mucous membrane irritation, fatigue, and annoyance from other aspects of the environment than smell during challenges, and was related to a higher increase in reaction time variability. Among men, Psychasthenia was unrelated to annoyance ratings, and was inversely related to the increase in smell intensity ratings. Social desirability was unrelated to any rating or performance dimension for either gender.
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| 68. |
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| 69. |
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| 70. |
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| 71. |
- Örbaek, Palle, et al.
(författare)
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Suprathreshold intensity and annoyance reactions in experimental challenge to toluene and n-butyl acetate among subjects with long-term solvent exposure
- 1998
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140. ; 24:5, s. 432-438
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study explores reactions to low-level chemical challenge, aiming at the development of test procedures for assessing individual sensitivity to smells and chemicals. METHODS: Subjects with symptoms and neuropsychological test results compatible with toxic encephalopathy type 2A (TE-2A) and 2B (TE-2B) and unexposed referents (N=12 in each group) were challenged in an exposure chamber. Toluene exposure was started at 11 mg/m3, and it followed a geometric progression scale with a ratio of 2, until reaching 180 mg/m3. In a counterbalanced design, the subjects were similarly exposed to n-butyl acetate starting at a concentration of 14 mg/m3 and increasing to 228 mg/m3. At each exposure level, smell intensity was measured on a 7-step category scale. Mucous membrane irritation and annoyance reactions were rated on visual analogue scales. RESULTS: Both TE groups showed high sensitivity to the low-level solvent challenge, which provoked immediate annoyance and fatigue reactions. In particular the TE-2B group related smell intensity to various annoyance dimensions during exposure to n-butyl acetate, a pattern not observed during toluene exposure. The reference group clearly separated smell intensity and annoyance reactions in both exposure conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The reaction of the TE cases suggests that chemical sensitivity can be distinguished from normal annoyance reactions by the inability to differentiate between smell intensity and an experience of irritation from mucous membranes in air concentrations well below the trigeminal irritation threshold level. Fatigue coreactivity in challenges to single substances below the neurotoxic level may also be important.
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| 72. |
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| 73. |
- Österberg, Kai, et al.
(författare)
-
A comparison of neuropsychological tests for the assessment of chronic toxic encephalopathy
- 2000
-
Ingår i: American Journal of Industrial Medicine. - 0271-3586. ; 38:6, s. 666-680
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: From the viewpoint of the clinical neuropsychologist, it is not evident if the detection of solvent induced toxic encephalopathy (TE) could be optimized by a modification of the traditional test batteries, adding tests covering new dimensions or monitoring further functional domains. METHODS: To clarify this issue, TE patients were re-examined with (a) the tests traditionally used in screening for TE and (b) some tests hitherto less utilized within neurotoxicology, involving complex attention and frontal lobe functioning. RESULTS: The results do not indicate that tests of the latter category would be more sensitive to TE than the tests traditionally used. Using an optimized core battery, compiled of tests from both categories, the sensitivity and specificity levels reached a maximum of around 0.7 when using as criterion the reproduction of a subnormal test profile (TE type 2B). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of several traditional and a few newer tests is suggested to optimize the detection of TE. Repeated assessments over time are also recommended.
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| 74. |
- Österberg, Kai, et al.
(författare)
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Annoyance and performance during the experimental chemical challenge of subjects with multiple chemical sensitivity.
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140. ; 29:1, s. 40-50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study explored the subjective reactions and psychological test performance of smell-intolerant subjects during consecutive challenges to chemicals with contrasting neurotoxic properties. METHODS: Women with symptoms compatible with multiple chemical sensitivity (N=10) and healthy referents (N=20) were individually challenged in an exposure chamber. All the subjects attended two separate 2-hour sessions of exposure to n-butyl acetate and toluene, in counterbalanced sequence. After an initial phase without exposure, air concentrations were increased in steps ranging from 3.6 to 57 mg/m3 for n-butyl acetate and from 11 to 180 mg/m3 for toluene. The response measures comprised ratings of annoyance and smell intensity and also neurobehavioral test performance. RESULTS: Both groups showed an increase in annoyance ratings and a decrease in test performance in the initial unexposed chamber phase and also in the first phase of the chemical exposure, these results indicating slight immediate expectancy or "suggestion" effects. During the six chamber phases, the ratings of mucous membrane irritation and fatigue showed a steeper increase in the group with multiple chemical sensitivity than among the referents, while the ratings of smell intensity and smell annoyance were similar in the two groups. A reduction in test performance was observed during the chamber phases, particularly in the group with multiple chemical sensitivity. No relation was found between the ratings or performance and chemical substance. CONCLUSIONS: Stronger immediate expectancy or "suggestion" reactions than normal did not characterize the group with multiple chemical sensitivity. This group showed a stronger than normal gradual build-up of fatigue, mucous membrane irritation, and reduced performance during chemical exposure. The results offer the most support to an irritative basis for multiple chemical sensitivity.
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| 75. |
- Österberg, Kai, et al.
(författare)
-
Annoyance and performance of three environmentally intolerant groups during experimental challenge with chemical odors.
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140. ; 30:6, s. 486-496
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study investigated exposure- and subject-related determinants of annoyance and performance during the chemical odor provocation of healthy persons with self-reported environmental annoyance. METHODS: Persons with self-reported annoyance attributed to (i) chemicals or smells (smell-annoyed, SA, N=29), (ii) electrical equipment (electrically annoyed, EA, N= 16), and (iii) both smells and electricity (generally annoyed, GA, N=39) were, together with referents (N=54), challenged with n-butyl acetate in an exposure chamber at levels far below the threshold values for neurotoxic effects and trigeminal irritation. A sequence of three air concentrations, 0.37, 1.5, and 6 ppm (1.8, 7.1, and 28 mg/m3) was used, counterbalanced within groups, together with intermittent periods of room air between each exposure level. The response measures comprised ratings of annoyance and smell intensity and reaction-time tests. RESULTS: Only the GA group showed clearly elevated ratings of smell annoyance, mucous membrane irritation, and fatigue, as well as longer reaction times, compared with the referents, in response to the challenge. No group difference was found for the smell-intensity ratings. During intermittent periods without exposure, only the GA group maintained higher ratings for mucous membrane irritation and fatigue. Reaction time and all the rating dimensions showed a positive relationship with momentary n-butyl acetate concentration, while cumulative exposure had a more limited impact on the ratings and reaction time. A suggestion effect by the chamber environment before exposure could not be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that self-reported annoyance generalized to both electrical equipment and smells is a better predictor of chemical intolerance than self-reported annoyance to smells only.
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| 76. |
- Österberg, Kai, et al.
(författare)
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Neuropsychological test performance in Swedish multiple chemical sensitivity patients – an exploratory study
- 2002
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Ingår i: Applied Neuropsychology. - 0908-4282. ; 9:3, s. 139-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To address the hypothesis of brain dysfunction as a component of the multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) syndrome, a neuropsychological battery comprising 8 tests was given to 17 Swedish MCS patients and 34 demographically matched controls. Across the 6 tests used as indicators of brain impairment, comprising a total of 17 test variables, the MCS group performed poorer only in a complex reaction time test (mean reaction time; p = 0.002; t test). Correction for self-ratings of mental distress and trait psychasthenia did not eliminate the deviation in the reaction time test. Because the results on most tests were within normal limits, brain impairment was not evidenced. However, the similar minor deviations in neurobehavioral tests observed in several studies of MCS patients indicate the need for a study on a larger sample of MCS cases.
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| 77. |
- Österberg, Kai, et al.
(författare)
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Personality, mental distress, and risk perception in subjects with multiple chemical sensitivity and toxic encephalopathy.
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. - : Wiley. - 1467-9450 .- 0036-5564. ; 43:2, s. 169-175
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Personality, mental distress, and risk perception were assessed in (a) cases of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS; n = 17), (b) chemically intolerant toxic encephalopathy cases (TE), type 2A (n = 31) and 2B (n = 26), and (c) healthy referents (n = 200). MCS cases showed elevated mental distress scores on the Depression, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Global Severity Index, and Somatization scales in the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). In the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) the MCS group showed an elevation only on the Psychasthenia scale. Both TE groups showed elevations across the KSP anxiety scales Muscular Tension, Psychasthenia, and Somatic Anxiety. TE type 2B subjects also showed elevations on the Irritability and Indirect Aggression scales. However, neither MCS nor TE groups showed deviating personality characteristics in the Meta Contrast Technique test. Similarly, none of the groups deviated from referents in a risk perception inventory.
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| 78. |
- Österberg, Kai, et al.
(författare)
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Personality, mental distress, and subjective health complaints among persons with environmental annoyance.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Human & Experimental Toxicology. - : SAGE Publications. - 0960-3271 .- 1477-0903. ; 26:3, s. 231-241
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to assess possible early determinants of idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI), contributing to an integrated model for the development of IEI. Questionnaires concerning personality traits, current mental distress, subjective health complaints, work load and satisfaction, and options for recovery, were given to 84 persons from the general population attributing annoyance to (i) chemicals/smells (smell-annoyed (SA) n=29); (ii) electrical equipment (electrically annoyed (EA) n=16); and (iii) both smells and electricity (generally annoyed [GA] n=39), but otherwise healthy and in active work. Compared to referents (n=54), the EA and GA groups showed strongly elevated scores on 5/6 scales within the trait anxiety/ neuroticism personality dimension, while the SA group had a slight elevation on only one anxiety scale. Current mental distress and subjective health complaints scores were generally elevated in the EA and GA groups, but only partially in the SA group. Higher proportions of the EA, GA, and SA groups reported low satisfaction with their work situation, including more frequent fatigue after work and a higher, and often unfulfilled, need for recovery. The findings suggest that trait anxiety is prominent already at prodromal stages of IEI, possibly indicating that trait anxiety facilitates the acquisition of attribution of health complaints to environmental factors.
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| 79. |
- Österberg, Kai, et al.
(författare)
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Psychological test performance during experimental challenge to toluene and n-butyl acetate in cases of solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy
- 2000
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140. ; 26:3, s. 219-226
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study determined whether performance in neurobehavioral tests deteriorates during subjectively annoying chemical challenge below known neurotoxic thresholds among persons with toxic encephalopathy with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals. METHODS: Subjects with symptoms and previous neuropsychological test results compatible with toxic encephalopathy (TE) of either type 2A (N=12) or 2B (N=12) and unexposed referents (N=12) were challenged in an exposure chamber. In a counterbalanced design, the subjects were exposed on 2 occasions to increasing air concentrations of n-butyl acetate and toluene at levels well below the thresholds for neurotoxic effects. Attention and motor speed tests were given (i) in room air outside the chamber before the challenge, (ii) in room air inside the chamber before the exposure, (iii) at 12 ppm (44 or 56 mg/m3), and (iv) at 48 ppm (at 180 or 228 mg/m3). RESULTS: For both substances the TE groups showed a slight increase (deterioration) in the simple reaction-time task during chemical exposure, but not in the complex reaction-time task or in the digit symbol test of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Contrary to reference subjects, the TE subjects did not show any improvement or learning effect in the digit symbol test over the chamber phases. n-Butyl acetate tended to affect cognitive functioning more obviously than toluene did. Suggestion or expectancy effects were not observed in any group in the clean-air baseline conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support the notion that men with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals would be more affected than healthy men regarding cognitive functioning during annoying solvent exposure below thresholds for acute neurotoxic effects.
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| 80. |
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