-Caveat Lector- .............................................................. >From the New Paradigms Project [Not Necessarily Endorsed] Note: We store 100's of related "conspiracy posts" at: http://www.msen.com/~lloyd/oldprojects/recentmail.html From: "Lloyd Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Mass psychogenic illness Date: Saturday, December 30, 2000 10:08 AM [Forgive me for being unduly skeptical (paranoid?), but this article by Timothy Jones has some disturbing subcontext to me, including the presumption that the "mass hysterias" of the last 600 years had no other explanation (and there are actually a number of "real" possibilities). While coming across as studied, scientific and caring, there is a consistent agenda being promoted which smacks of control based on psychology -- both the presumed hysteria as well as the message here. There are several references to possible bioterrorism. Granted that beliefs are a factor in society, just whose beliefs are being inculcated? Further, as the propaganda about AIDS has to mutate due to failing paradigms, we may see more explanations along this line. I am not pointing a finger at the person who reported this article to the rethinkingaids list, but rather the assumptions which are implicit behind state-dictated views and the possible misuse when problems surface. VR] Subject: Mass psychogenic illness Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 09:48:56 -0800 From: Phillip Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 20:21:53 -0500 (EST) From: Matthew Irwin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: AIDS and mass psychogenic hysteria The following article appeared in the most recent edition of the primary journal for family practicioners, called the "American Family Physician". It is the official journal for the American Academy of Family Practice. The article is about a phenomenon called "mass psychogenic illness" or "epidemic hysteria". For those of you who don't already know, I wrote a paper for med school about how stress, negative beliefs, and social isolation can cause illnesses and immune suppression that look exactly like the symptoms of AIDS. This paper got very very long and is more like a book, which I entitled "AIDS and the Voodoo Hex". Simply put, "mass psychogenic illnesses" are epidemics that are spread through the power of suggestion/belief. These are actually quite common and have been occuring at least since the 13th century. The article below does not mention AIDS. The circumstances and social pressures that can lead to such an outbreak, however, sound a lot like the circumstances surrounding gay men in the early 1980's when the whole thing started. here are some quotes: - "Mass psychogenic illness is characterized by symptoms, occurring among a group of persons with shared beliefs regarding those symptoms, that suggest organic illness but have no identifiable environmental cause..."(the shared beliefs at the time were that there was an infectious plague spreading among gay men "the gay plague") - "Mass psychogenic illness typically affects adolescents or children, groups under stress and females disproportionately more than males." (gay men were under severe stress, experiencing a societal backlash with the high profile repealing of gay rights in Florida and the assassination of Harvey Milk, the first elected official in the U.S. who was openly gay. They were also young and coming into their identity as adolescents do, and were expressing their female side.) - "They may be aggravated by a prominent emergency or media response." (this requires no comment...) When combined with a detailed analysis of voodoo hexing and other examples of how beliefs can affect people's lives, as many have done, including me, it becomes apparent that these could explain much of the illness that follows an HIV+ diagnosis. Matt http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001215/2649.html Mass Psychogenic Illness: Role of the Individual Physician TIMOTHY F. JONES, M.D. Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, Tennessee Mass psychogenic illness is characterized by symptoms, occurring among a group of persons with shared beliefs regarding those symptoms, that suggest organic illness but have no identifiable environmental cause and little clinical or laboratory evidence of disease. Mass psychogenic illness typically affects adolescents or children, groups under stress and females disproportionately more than males. Symptoms often follow an environmental trigger or illness in an index case. They can spread rapidly by apparent visual transmission, may be aggravated by a prominent emergency or media response, and frequently resolve after patients are separated from each other and removed from the environment in which the outbreak began. Physicians should consider this diagnosis when faced with a cluster of unexplained acute illness. (Am Fam Physician 2000;62:2649-53,2655-6.) Mass psychogenic illness involves people with real symptoms that are often triggered by misunderstood or false information. Unfortunately, by the time many outbreaks are recognized as psychogenic illness, they have had a devastating effect on the communities and individuals involved. Mass psychogenic illness, also referred to as mass hysteria, has been described for more than 600 years in a variety of cultures and settings2,3 but is seldom addressed during medical training. It can be difficult to differentiate from bioterrorism, rapidly spreading infection or acute toxic exposure. Epidemics of psychogenic illness often attract substantial media attention and may have profound public health, social and economic repercussions. Appropriate recognition of and response to such incidents by physicians can have a substantial impact on the outcome. Historically, a wide variety of crazes and abnormal group behaviors have been attributed to mass psychogenic illness.2 These have ranged from medieval dancing mania4 to a recent wave of illness after soft-drink consumption in Belgium.5 Outbreaks of psychogenic illness are likely to be more common than is currently appreciated, and many may go unrecognized.6 Illustrative Case A high-school teacher noted a gasoline-like odor in her classroom one morning. She developed headache, nausea, shortness of breath and dizziness. Students began complaining of similar symptoms. The school was evacuated, and emergency personnel from several counties responded. That day, 100 people went to a local emergency department with symptoms reportedly related to exposure at the school. Five days later, the outbreak recurred. The school was closed that day, and approximately 70 people sought emergency care. Physical examination and laboratory testing revealed no evidence of a toxic cause for the symptoms. A thorough multiagency environmental examination also failed to identify an explanation for the outbreak. Persons with symptoms were more likely than those not having symptoms to be female, to have seen another person become ill and to report smelling an odor.6 Recognition of the Phenomenon Mass psychogenic illness has been defined as a constellation of symptoms suggestive of organic illness, with no identifiable cause and little clinical or laboratory evidence of disease, which occurs among persons who share beliefs regarding their symptoms. It is not simply a "diagnosis of exclusion." Early consideration of the diagnosis may help prevent further2,7 morbidity. The author's review of the medical literature pertaining to both mass psychogenic illness and epidemic illness related to toxic exposures suggests that there have been few outbreaks of acute illness with minimal abnormal physical and laboratory findings that were due to confirmed toxic exposures and where the cause was not quickly apparent to investigators. >From 1973 to 1993, one half of reported outbreaks of psychogenic illness occurred in >schools, followed by factories (29 percent), towns and villages (10 percent), >families and other institutions.2 Outbreaks often occur in groups experiencing physical or emotional stress.7 Symptoms commonly described in mass psychogenic illness are listed in Table 1.6-14 Outbreaks often involve acute onset and rapid spread of symptoms with minimal physical or abnormal laboratory findings (except those associated with hyperventilation). Person-to-person spread within minutes has been called pathognomonic of this illness,15 although it is not always present. Symptoms may suggest an environmental cause, but no such cause can be identified, and other putatively exposed persons do not become ill. Rash has been described in several outbreaks of psychogenic illness. In such situations, rash often may be associated with pruritus and may occur on exposed skin in a distribution that suggests scratching as a cause.16,17 Reported outbreaks affect females disproportionately more often than males, and frequently involve adolescents or children.2 Incidents often follow an environmental trigger such as an odor,9,10,12 and many outbreaks are preceded by illness in an index case that generates a substantial emergency response.2,6,9,10,18 Illness can spread through exposure to audiovisual cues7,10 and by "line-of-sight" transmission. The latter term refers to the apparent spread of symptoms among persons who see others become ill. Symptoms can recur in the setting of the initial outbreak.7 Media coverage frequently escalates such outbreaks.7,18-20 Epidemiologic characteristics frequently associated with mass psychogenic illness are summarized in Table 2. Unfortunately, there is no single definitive diagnostic trait of mass psychogenic illness. Exceptions to each of the typical characteristics have been reported. An outbreak of "mass hysteria by proxy" has even been documented, in which anxiety transmitted among parents led to reports of symptoms in students.7 The diagnosis of mass psychogenic illness shares many characteristics with sick building syndrome and other such illnesses,21 further obscuring the issue for physicians. Potential litigation or monetary compensation for mass psychogenic illness can complicate outbreaks2,19 and may make it difficult to differentiate between illness and malingering. Response to an Outbreak Recognizing mass psychogenic illness is a critical first step for all health care professionals in appropriately responding to such outbreaks. Approaches to handling mass psychogenic illness are outlined in Table 3. Once the diagnosis is determined, reassuring patients is the primary therapy. Separating them can be beneficial.9,10 Most patients experience rapid resolution of symptoms once they are removed from the environment in which the outbreak started. In treating individual patients, it is important to acknowledge that although no toxic cause of their illness has been identified, the person's symptoms are real. A diagnosis of mass psychogenic illness is not equivalent to saying that the symptoms are just "in the patient's mind." It is also important to emphasize that mass psychogenic illness affects normal, healthy persons and does not imply underlying psychopathology. In many cases in which an outbreak is triggered by a person with an illness, the "index case" cannot be attributed to mass hysteria because there was no group phenomenon occurring at the time. The cause of symptoms in the initial person or group may be different from the cause in others who are affected during a rapidly escalating outbreak. Similarly, any large group involved in an outbreak may include individual persons with unrelated organic causes of illness. Persons with severe, persistent or unusual symptoms should be carefully evaluated for other possible etiologies. Frequently, when the first patients in an outbreak of psychogenic illness are examined, extensive laboratory testing is ordered in an effort to elucidate a physiologic diagnosis. If initial basic laboratory test results are normal, patients are stable and the circumstances of the outbreak suggest mass psychogenic illness as the etiology, further testing may not be indicated. Physicians are trained to search for an organic cause of disease, and it can be very difficult to resist pressure to perform increasingly obscure tests in search of an elusive diagnosis, particularly amid the substantial public concern frequently generated by such outbreaks. TABLE 2 Common Characteristics of Mass Psychogenic Illness Often occurs after exposure to an environmental trigger (e.g., odor, emergency response, rumor, reported toxin, etc.). Females affected disproportionately more often than males. Adolescents and children affected. Patients with psychologic or physical stress affected. Symptoms spread and resolve rapidly. Symptoms inconsistent with a single biologic: etiology. Symptoms may include hyperventilation or syncope. Symptoms associated with minimal physical or laboratory findings. Symptoms spread by "line-of-sight" transmission (i.e., seeing or hearing of another ill person causes symptoms). Illness may recur with return to environment of initial outbreak. Illness may escalate with vigorous or prolonged emergency or media response. Information from references 2, 7 and 9. Adapted with permission from Grundy SM. Small LDL, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome [Editorial]. Circulation 1997;95:1-4. TABLE 3 Recommended Approach to Patients with Mass Psychogenic Illness Attempt to separate persons with illness associated with the outbreak. Promptly perform physical examination and basic laboratory testing sufficient to exclude serious acute illness. Monitor and provide oxygen as necessary for hyperventilation. Minimize unnecessary exposure to medical procedures, emergency personnel, media or other potential anxiety-stimulating situations. Notify public health authorities of apparent outbreak. Openly communicate with physicians caring for other patients. Promptly communicate results of laboratory and environmental testing to patients. While maintaining confidentiality, explain that other people are experiencing similar symptoms and improving without complications. Remind patients that rumors and reports of "suspected causes" are not equivalent to confirmed results. Acknowledge that symptoms experienced by the patient are real. Explain potential contribution of anxiety to the patient's symptoms. Reassure patient that long-term sequelae from current illness are not expected. As appropriate, reassure patient that thorough clinical, epidemiologic and environmental investigations have identified no toxic cause for the outbreak or reason for further concern. Nonetheless, ordering large numbers of tests can be problematic. The well-known adage, "If you order enough tests, something will come back abnormal," can leave a physician having to explain an abnormal result to a patient who has symptoms that may be completely unrelated to that parameter. In addition, extensive testing can fuel perceptions that a physiologic or toxic cause of the illness is suspected and may be interpreted as inconsistent with reassuring messages. In approaching mass psychogenic illness, the goal should be to restore individual persons and the community to routine function as quickly as possible. Prompt and definitive identification and labeling of episodes has been advocated as important in terminating them,22 but such an approach can be very difficult in practice. Labeling an outbreak as psychogenic may minimize unnecessary testing and halt spread, but the perception of a less than thorough investigation can lead to mistrust and anger. Another strategy involves reassuring patients while avoiding naming the illness. This approach does not provide a "diagnosis," and the absence of an identified source may lead to continued concern, symptom spread and increased testing. In any approach to mass psychogenic illness, a prompt, coordinated response is important in resolving widespread community anxiety surrounding these episodes. Health care personnel are often unprepared to handle this intense anxiety. As concerns about bioterrorism increase, the frequency of such incidents and the anxiety surrounding unexplained epidemic illness may intensify. Physicians should discuss the diagnosis of mass psychogenic illness with colleagues to garner support for subsequent actions. Promptly notifying emergency response and public health personnel, and openly discussing with them the reasoning behind and appropriate handling of such a diagnosis, are critical in effectively and consistently responding to such emergencies. Communication with the media should be handled by a limited number of people who deliver a consistent message. This article exemplifies the AAFP 2001 Annual Clinical Focus on allergies and asthma. The Author TIMOTHY F. JONES, M.D., is a medical epidemiologist with the Tennessee Department of Health and assistant clinical professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville. He graduated from Stanford (Calif.) University School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency and a fellowship in maternal/child health at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence. Dr. Jones served as an officer in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemic Intelligence Service. Address correspondence to Timothy F. Jones, M.D., Tennessee Department of Health, Communicable & Environmental Disease Services, Cordell Hull Building, 425 5th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37247. Reprints are not available from the author. REFERENCES 1.Ellis FH, ed. Swift vs. Mainwaring: the Examiner and the Medley. Oxford: Clarendon, 1985:19-26. 2.Boss LP. Epidemic hysteria: a review of the published literature. Epidemiol Rev 1997;19:233-43. 3.Wessely S. Mass hysteria: two syndromes? Psychol Med 1987;17:109-20. 4.Donaldson LJ, Cavanagh J, Rankin J. The dancing plague: a public health conundrum. Public Health 1997;111:201-4. 5.Coke adds life, but cannot always explain it [Editorial]. Lancet 1999;354:173. 6.Jones TF, Craig AS, Hoy D, Gunter EW, Ashley DL, Barr DB, et al. Mass psychogenic illness attributed to toxic exposure at a high school. N Engl J Med 2000;342:96-100. 7.Philen RM, Kilbourne EM, McKinley TW, Parrish RG. Mass sociogenic illness by proxy: parentally reported epidemic in an elementary school. Lancet 1989;2:1372-6. 8.Cole TB, Chorba TL, Horan JM. Patterns of transmission of epidemic hysteria in a school. Epidemiology 1990;1:212-8. 9.Small GW, Feinberg DT, Steinberg D, Collins MT. A sudden outbreak of illness suggestive of mass hysteria in schoolchildren. Arch Fam Med 1994;3:711-6. 10.Selden BS. Adolescent epidemic hysteria presenting as a mass casualty, toxic exposure event. Ann Emerg Med 1989;18:892-5. 11.Modan B, Swartz TA, Tirosh M, Costin C, Weissenberg E, Donagi A, et al. The Arjenyattah epidemic. A mass phenomenon: spread and triggering factors. Lancet 1983;2:1472-4. 12.Alexander RW, Fedoruk MJ. Epidemic psychogenic illness in a telephone operators' building. J Occup Med 1986;28:42-5. 13.Small GW, Nicholi AM Jr. Mass hysteria among schoolchildren. Early loss as a predisposing factor. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1982;39:721-4. 14.Small GW, Borus JF. Outbreak of illness in a school chorus. Toxic poisoning or mass hysteria? N Engl J Med 1983;308:632-5. 15.Gann PH. Truth or consequences: when the study reintroduces the disease agent [Editorial]. Epidemiology 1990;1:192-4. 16.Robinson P, Szewczyk M, Haddy L, Jones P, Harvey W. Outbreak of itching and rash: epidemic hysteria in an elementary school. Arch Intern Med 1984;144:1959-62. 17.Rouech B. The medical detectives. New York: Truman Talley Books/Plume, 1991:317-29. 18.Cartter ML, Mshar P, Burdo H. The epidemic hysteria dilemma [Letter]. Am J Dis Child 1989;143:269. 19.David SS, Wessely SC. The legend of Camelford: medical consequences of a water pollution accident [Editorial]. J Psychosom Res 1995;39:1-9. 20.Hefez A. The role of the press and the medical community in the epidemic of "mysterious gas poisoning" in the Jordan West Bank. Am J Psychiatry 1985;142:833-7. 21.Rothman AL, Weintraub MI. The sick building syndrome and mass hysteria. Neurol Clin 1995; 13:405-12. 22.Nitzkin JL. Epidemic transient situational disturbance in an elementary school. J Fla Med Assoc 1976;63:357-9. Copyright 2000 by the American Academy of Family Physicians. This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] for copyright questions and/or permission requests. Forwarded for info and discussion from the New Paradigms Discussion List, not necessarily endorsed by: *********************************** Lloyd Miller, Research Director for A-albionic Research a ruling class/conspiracy research resource for the entire political-ideological spectrum. **FREE RARE BOOK SEARCH: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ** Explore Our Archive: <http://a-albionic.com/a-albionic.html> <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
