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Symptoms & Sensitivity111 citations

Symptoms, personality traits, and stress in people with mobile phone-related symptoms and electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

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Johansson A, Nordin S, Heiden M, Sandström M. · 2010

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Mobile phone symptom sufferers show distinct psychological profiles from general EHS patients, suggesting these are separate conditions requiring different treatments.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers compared 116 people who reported symptoms from mobile phones or general electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) with control groups to understand their psychological profiles. They found that people with mobile phone-specific symptoms showed higher rates of exhaustion and depression, while those with general EHS showed elevated anxiety, depression, and other psychological symptoms. The study suggests these represent two distinct conditions that may require different treatment approaches.

Why This Matters

This research provides important insights into the psychological dimensions of EMF-related symptoms, distinguishing between those who react to specific devices like mobile phones versus those with broader electromagnetic hypersensitivity. The science demonstrates clear differences in symptom patterns and psychological profiles between these groups. What this means for you is that EMF-related symptoms aren't a monolithic condition. People reporting mobile phone symptoms showed a more limited psychological profile compared to those with general EHS, who exhibited broader psychological distress. The reality is that understanding these distinctions is crucial for both healthcare providers and individuals experiencing EMF-related symptoms, as different symptom patterns may require different management strategies.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

This study assessed prevalence of EMF-related and EMF-nonrelated symptoms, anxiety, depression, somatization, exhaustion, and stress in people with MP-related symptoms or EHS versus a population-based sample and a control sample without EMF-related symptoms.

Forty-five participants with MP-related symptoms and 71 with EHS were compared with a population-bas...

The EHS group reported more symptoms than the MP group, both EMF-related and EMF-nonrelated. The MP ...

The findings support the idea of a difference between people with symptoms related to specific EMF sources and people with general EHS with respect to symptoms and anxiety, depression, somatization, exhaustion, and stress. The differences are likely to be important in the management of patients.

Cite This Study
Johansson A, Nordin S, Heiden M, Sandström M. (2010). Symptoms, personality traits, and stress in people with mobile phone-related symptoms and electromagnetic hypersensitivity. J Psychosom Res. 68(1):37-45, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2010_symptoms_personality_traits_and_2241,
  author = {Johansson A and Nordin S and Heiden M and Sandström M.},
  title = {Symptoms, personality traits, and stress in people with mobile phone-related symptoms and electromagnetic hypersensitivity.},
  year = {2010},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20004299/},
}
PubMed: 20004299

Cited By (111 papers)

View all 111 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, mobile phone-specific symptoms and general electromagnetic hypersensitivity represent two distinct conditions. The 2010 Johansson study found mobile phone symptom sufferers showed mainly exhaustion and depression, while general EHS patients displayed broader anxiety, depression, and neurasthenic symptoms requiring different treatment approaches.
People with mobile phone symptoms show increased exhaustion and depression but not anxiety or stress disorders. The Johansson study of 116 symptomatic individuals found they primarily experience somatosensory symptoms like tingling and burning, distinguishing them from general electromagnetic hypersensitivity patients.
Yes, general electromagnetic hypersensitivity patients show elevated anxiety, depression, somatization, and exhaustion simultaneously. The 2010 study found EHS sufferers report more diverse neurasthenic symptoms compared to people with mobile phone-specific complaints, suggesting broader psychological impacts.
Yes, doctors should use different treatment approaches for mobile phone symptoms versus general electromagnetic hypersensitivity. The Johansson research demonstrates these conditions have distinct symptom patterns and psychological profiles, making personalized management strategies essential for effective patient care.
Mobile phone symptom sufferers and general EHS patients differ mainly in somatization and listlessness traits. The study found mobile phone patients focus on specific physical sensations, while EHS patients display broader psychological symptoms, indicating different underlying sensitivity mechanisms.