Environmental illness is a concept of growing concern to all health
professionals. Patients with problems presumably caused by sick
buildings, electromagnetic fields and hypersensitivity to
chemicals--to name a few--are often referred to psychologists,
psychiatrists, and other counselors. The battery worker with
fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain and an elevated lead level...the
assembly worker with pain and numbness in her hand and delayed
median nerve conduction...the patient who develops typical contact
dermatitis after working with epoxies..., these are straightforward
cases. But they are in the minority. In many cases, needy,
demanding, and difficult patients present complex and challenging
psychological issues. Practitioners often lack the training or
wisdom to handle these issues effectively. We know that exposure to
lead, mercury, and PCBs affect psychological development and
behavior; we know much less about the effects of thousands of other
chemicals in the environment. In addition, global climate change,
social disruption, and the spread of infections will--in the near
future--expose people to novel environmental threats. Symptoms
caused by toxins can overlap those caused by fear, stress, and
depression, and the clinical picture can mimic a variety of other
mental disorders. On the other hand, the natural environment can
also be a healer. Research shows that hospital stays are shortened
and the need for pain medication reduced for patients exposed to
nature, even in images, or to the company of animals. Nursing home
patients live longer if allowed to keep pets, and one controlled
study shows that caring for animals reduces disruptive behavior in
even the most difficult ADD children. This book offers the first
overview of the many ways the environment can affect mental health
and illness. It will prove to be an important and valuable resource
for physicians in psychiatry, public health, and environmental
medicine; for clinical and counseling psychologists and social
workers; and for environmental researchers and advocates worldwide.
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