Psychological prognosis of diagnosed chronic organic solvent intoxication

Abstract

The psychological prognosis of 86 patients (40 men and 46 women) with previously diagnosed chronic solvent intoxication due to trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, or solvent mixtures was studied after a follow-up period (mean 5.9 years). The patients' mean age at the time of diagnosis was 38.6 years, and the mean duration of solvent exposure was 10.7 years. Tests for intelligence, short-term memory, and sensory and motor functions were applied. The group means of the patients' intellectual functions were increased after the follow-up period. At the group level, the scores on one sensorimotor task and tasks requiring manual dexterity were lower. Individual patients performed better, worse, or equally when the results of the initial examination and the reexamination were compared. The overall prognosis of psychological test results was better with a longer follow-up period and lower age. Patients who used drugs with neurological effects had a poorer overall psychological prognosis. The characteristic of solvent exposure were related only to the prognosis of some single tests for sensory and motor functions.