Letter: War of words

The possible adverse effects of service during the Gulf war is an area surrounded by myth and misinformation. Your correspondent (Letters, 4 May) adds to the climate of suspicion by her attack on our research programme into the problems experienced by those servicemen and women. Our research has no connection with the Wellcome Trust: we are funded by the US Department of Defence and we are honoured to receive its support. Nor have we suggested that the cause of Gulf war syndrome is psychosomatic. Neither we nor anyone else knows the cause of the ill health that affects those who served in the campaign. We are investigating every possi- bility, including the role of organophosphate pesticides.

Professors Anthony David and Simon Wessely

King's College School of Medicine & Dentistry, London SE5