Cognitive and Psychomotor Performance Tests and Experiment Design in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Anthony Wetherell
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Protection and Life Sciences Division, Chemical and Biological Defence Human Studies Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
Abstract
People suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) complain of a variety of symptoms that could impair cognitive and psychomotor function either directly or indirectly. This paper discusses the use of cognitive and psychomotor performance tests together with some experiment designs that could be considered for use to assess fitness of MCS sufferers for work or the efficacy of diagnostic, preventative, or therapeutic measures. The tests could also contribute to the body of objective information on MCS and help sway the opinion of those who are dubious of its authenticity. The credentials of cognitive and psychomotor performance tests are derived from their successful use in studying the effects of drugs, and the types of tests are illustrated by describing those used by the United Kingdom Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Chemical and Biological Defence Human Studies Group, which has been involved in the assessment of drugs and chemicals on work performance for many years. The tests include mathematical, verbal and spatial processing, tracking, reaction time, attention and vigilance, and memory tests. The discussion of experiment designs includes both repeated measures and parallel groups designs together with their advantages and disadvantages and some suggested modifications to accommodate the particular problems posed by MCS. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 2):495-503 (1997)
Key words: multiple chemical sensitivity, cognitive function, psychomotor function, performance tests, performance models, psychometrics, sensitivity, reliability, validity, experiment design, parallel groups designs, repeated measures designs, Latin square designs, drug effects, psychopharmacology
This paper is based on a presentation at the Conference on Experimental Approaches to Chemical Sensitivity held 20-22 September 1995 in Princeton, New Jersey. Manuscript received at EHP 6 March 1996; manuscript accepted 2 January 1997.
Address correspondence to Dr. A. Wetherell, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Protection and Life Sciences Division, Chemical and Biological Defence Human Studies Group, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ United Kingdom. Telephone: 44 (0) 1980 613478. Fax: 44 (0) 1980 613741.
Abbreviations used: AGARD, Advisory Group on Aerospace Research and Development; CBD, Chemical and Biological Defence; MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity; STRES, Standardised Tests for Research into Environmental Stressors.
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Last Update: March 24, 1997