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Cited by 69Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsDental Anxiety and Anesthesia TechniquesDental materials and restorations

Physical and Mental Problems Attributed to Dental Amalgam Fillings: A Descriptive Study of 99 Self-Referred Patients Compared with 272 Controls

Malt, Ulrik Fredrik, Nerdrum, Per, Oppedal, Bjorn, Gundersen, Roger, Holte, Martin, Lone, Jostein·1997·Psychosomatic Medicine
DOI 10.1097/00006842-199701000-00005
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The physical and mental symptomatology of 99 self-referred patients complaining of multiple somatic and mental symptoms attributed to dental amalgam fillings were compared with patients with known chronic medical disorders seen in alternative (N = 93) and ordinary (N = 99) medical family practices and patients with dental amalgam fillings (N = 80) seen in an ordinary dental practice. METHOD: The assessments included written self-reports, a 131-item somatic symptom checklist; Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire, and Toronto Alexithymia Scale. RESULTS: The dental amalgam sample reported significantly more physical symptoms from all body regions. Self-reports suggested that 62% suffered from a chronic anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder or panic). Forty-seven percent suffered from a major depression compared with 14% in the two clinical-comparison samples and none in the dental control sample. Symptoms suggesting somatization disorder were found in 29% of the dental amalgam sample compared with only one subject in the 272 comparison subjects. One third of the dental amalgam patients reported symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome compared with none in the dental control sample and only 2 and 6%, respectively, in the two clinical comparison samples. The dental amalgam group reported higher mean neuroticism and lower lie scores than the comparison groups. CONCLUSION: Self-referred patients with health complaints attributed to dental amalgam are a heterogeneous group of patients who suffer multiple symptoms and frequently have mental disorders. There is a striking similarity with the multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome.

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Crossref · 10.1097/00006842-199701000-00005

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42 of 42 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • In TCM, ayurvedic, and Tibetan remedies, such as TCM herbal preparations prepared by pharmacists in Germany, mercury is definitely prohibited; it is illegal and cannot be prescribed in Germany.

    “In these remedies, such as TCM herbal preparations prepared by pharmacists in Germany,$^{2}$^{9} mercury is definitely prohibited; it is illegal and cannot be prescribed in Germany.$^{3}$^{0}”

    From A Physician’s View on Legal Aspects of the Contemporary Medical Use of Mercury in Germany (2013) · cites this paper as [29]

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Authors
Malt, U. F., Nerdrum, P., Oppedal, B., Gundersen, R., Holte, M., & Lone, J.
Affiliations
University of Oslo (NO)
ORCID
Malt, Ulrik Fredrik
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
1997
Volume
59
Issue
1
Pages
32-41
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/00006842-199701000-00005
OpenAlex
W2030860349
Cited by
69
References
44
Citations by year
2020: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Dental Anxiety and Anesthesia Techniques
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Orthodontics › Dental materials and restorations
Keywords
dental amalgam, mercury toxicity, somatic symptoms, mental health, anxiety disorders, depression, somatization disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, neuroticism, alexithymia, self-referred patients
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Analysis of Variance, Mental Disorders, Dental Amalgam, Dental Restoration, Permanent, Fatigue, Female, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Male, Middle Aged, Personality, Sampling Studies, Sick Role, Somatoform Disorders, Prevalence, Chi-Square Distribution, Case-Control Studies

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