Living in a moldy, water damaged building has many health consequences including asthma and other respiratory ailments, fatigue, headaches, sore throats, rashes, muscles cramps and aches, joint pain, anxiety and depression.

The connection between mold and depression was well documented in a study of 5,882 adults living in 2,982 households in Europe.  The European WHO researchers visited each household, asked about depressive symptoms and measured the level of dampness and mold in each residence.  It was published in the Oct 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.  The lead author initially was skeptical that there was a link between depression and mold, believing that once he accounted for other factors, like crowding, the association would disappear.  However, his analysis of the data confirmed that living in a moldy household increased the risk for depression by 33-44 percent.

At MyPasion4Health we find that screening patients complaining of depression and anxiety for mold illness also finds a surprisingly high number who are living or working in water damaged buildings.  Treating patients with depression who are also exposed to mold with the Shoemaker protocol for mold illness has helped many patients with so called “treatment resistant” depression recover.

Related citations in PubMed
·    Dampness and mold in the home and depression: an examination of mold-related illness and perceived control of one’s home as possible depression pathways.[Am J Public Health. 2007]
· Indoor mold contamination–a threat to health?[J Environ Health. 2002]
Is indoor mold contamination a threat to health? Part two.[J Environ Health. 2003]
· Dampness and mold in the indoor environment: implications for asthma