Clinical Ecology

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-111-2-168

Clinical Ecology

Excerpt

Clinical ecology is a form of medical practice based on two concepts: that a broad range of environmental chemicals and foods can be responsible for an illness in which an unlimited variety of symptoms occur in the absence of objective physical findings, pathologic abnormalities, or specific, abnormal results of laboratory tests; and that the immune system is functionally depressed by many environmental chemicals. Approximately 500 physicians from different medical specialties have adopted the practice of clinical ecology after participating in courses and apprenticeships (Morris DL. Personal communication). This report will review evidence from the published literature on the theories and

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments: The Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project (CEAP) of the American College of Physicians evaluates and informs College members and others about the safety and efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and medical practices. Evaluation of technologies begins with a notice in Annals of Internal Medicine and ACP Observer inviting comments. Appropriate members of the Council of Medical Societies, the Council of Subspecialty Societies, other specialty societies and selected outside experts are asked to review draft manuscripts. The CEAP statements thus represent a synthesis of the literature and expert opinion and are intended to reflect the current state-of-the-art knowledge concerning a technology or a medical practice. Statements may be reconsidered as new information becomes available.

Article and Author Information

↵* This paper was authored by Abba I. Terr, MD, and was developed for the Health and Public Policy Committee by the Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee: Lockhart B. McGuire, MD, Chairman; Ernest L. Mazzaferri, MD; Charles C. Smith, Jr., MD; Earl P. Steinberg, MD; Paul Calabresi, MD; Albert G. Mulley, Jr., MD; Harold C. Sox, Jr., MD. Members of the Health and Public Policy Committee were: Paul F. Griner, MD, Chairman; Thomas P. Almy, MD; John M. Eisenberg, MD; Lockhart B. McGuire, MD; Quentin D. Young, MD; Steven A. Schroeder, MD; Richard G. Farmer, MD; F. Daniel Duffy, MD; Donald I. Feinstein, MD; Lynn B. Tepley, MD; CS. Lewis, MD. This paper was approved by the Board of Regents on 14 September 1988.
All previous CEAP statements and a subscription to future reports are now available in Clinical Efficacy Reports. This paper represents the second to be distributed in the 1989/90 subscription series.
Requests for Reprints: Linda Johnson White, Director, Department of Scientific Policy, American College of Physicians, Independence Mall West, Sixth Street at Race, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1572.