N Engl J Med January 2000 PMID 10631279

Mass psychogenic illness attributed to toxic exposure at a high school.

T F Jones, A S Craig, D Hoy, E W Gunter, D L Ashley, D B Barr, J W Brock, W Schaffner

Mentions

32
Peak: 1 in Apr 2013
across 5 sources since Apr 2013

Extended reach

17,102,281
potential audience

Total likes

267,775

Video views

17,062,875

Mentions per month

Apr 2013 – Dec 2023

Where it's discussed

  • News16 articles
  • X / Twitter5 posts
  • Blogs5 articles
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions include references to academic literature, such as the article by Timothy F. Jones, which lends credibility and deepens engagement, while questions about nocebo effects and social media influence suggest curiosity and critical thinking. The tone varies from informational to speculative, balancing scientific support with skepticism.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

The discussions show mixed opinions, with some referencing scientific articles supporting the original findings, while others question or link the phenomenon to psychological factors, reflecting neutrality or skepticism overall.

InterestModerate interest

Most discussions display curiosity about the topic, especially regarding the psychological versus environmental causes, indicating a moderate level of interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants are engaging with the subject by citing scientific studies, raising questions about related phenomena like vaccine effects or WiFi sickness, demonstrating thoughtful participation.

ImpactNeutral impact

While the conversations are meaningful within academic and social contexts, they have limited influence on broader public health policy or perception, leading to a neutral impact score.

Abstract in brief

  • Mass psychogenic illness at a Tennessee high school was initially thought to be caused by toxic gas exposure but showed no environmental or medical evidence supporting this.
  • Symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and nausea were widespread among students and staff and were significantly linked to psychological factors like noticing an unusual odor or knowing others were ill, rather than chemical exposure.
  • The case highlights the importance of quick recognition and thorough investigation of mass psychogenic illness, especially when no tangible environmental cause is found, to reduce anxiety and prevent unnecessary medical responses.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Dan Kaszeta, FRHistS, Legal Juggernaut
@DanKaszeta · X

Here's some literature on mass psychogenic illness: Jones, Timothy F., et al. "Mass psychogenic illness attributed to toxic exposure at a high school." New England Journal of Medicine 342.2 (2000): 96-100.

Mar 4, 2023 · 3 likes · 37,827 followers View post →
Nathan Whitmore | @nathanww.bsky.social
@brain_juices · X

So here's a question: has social media+mass vaccination created some sort of psychogenic post-vaccine syndrome? There's definitely evidence for the vaccine acting as a nocecebo (https://t.co/2DepAWnM0T) and historical precedent (https://t.co/HHhtESxrRV)

Apr 2, 2021 · 1 like · 513 followers View post →
ASG
@ASG_ison2nite · X

WiFi Sickness: Just In Your Head? https://t.co/TaQ7mjXHrK via @YouTube

Oct 27, 2020 · 721 followers View post →
Hippe Honingbij
@HippeHoningbij · X

@de_bilde @kafleader nocebo effect https://t.co/5XKKNwIc8g

Mar 31, 2020 · 204 followers View post →

All mentions

Understanding Mass Psychogenic Illness in Schools

Mass psychogenic illness at a Tennessee high school was initially thought to be caused by toxic gas exposure but showed no environmental or medical evidence supporting this. The case highlights the importance of quick…

CGP Grey · Dec 23, 2013 14,996,052 views
Dan Kaszeta, FRHistS, Legal Juggernaut
@DanKaszeta · X

Here's some literature on mass psychogenic illness: Jones, Timothy F., et al. "Mass psychogenic illness attributed to toxic exposure at a high school." New England Journal of Medicine 342.2 (2000): 96-100.

Mar 4, 2023 · 3 likes · 37,827 followers View post →
LastHumanVestige
@NotANormalton · X

@CharlieEmmaUK While working on an essay about disease creation I found an article that appeared in the January 13, 2000 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine called “Mass Psychogenic Illness Attributed to Toxic Exposure at a High School.” https://t.co/mgMOVDOQf3

Aug 28, 2021 · 141 followers View post →
Nathan Whitmore | @nathanww.bsky.social
@brain_juices · X

So here's a question: has social media+mass vaccination created some sort of psychogenic post-vaccine syndrome? There's definitely evidence for the vaccine acting as a nocecebo (https://t.co/2DepAWnM0T) and historical precedent (https://t.co/HHhtESxrRV)

Apr 2, 2021 · 1 like · 513 followers View post →
ASG
@ASG_ison2nite · X

WiFi Sickness: Just In Your Head? https://t.co/TaQ7mjXHrK via @YouTube

Oct 27, 2020 · 721 followers View post →
Hippe Honingbij
@HippeHoningbij · X

@de_bilde @kafleader nocebo effect https://t.co/5XKKNwIc8g

Mar 31, 2020 · 204 followers View post →