Successful treatment of olfactory reference syndrome with clomipramine

Abstract

Subjective halitosis is a chronic disorder, and cannot be easily identified or measured by objective methods. The patients who are complaining with subjective halitosis usually refer to dentists, yet they reject to psychiatric consultations. One of the causes is olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) which is accepted as delusional or obsessive thoughts. ORS patients are usually refer to others’ behaviours; people who are closing their mouth, coughing and touching their nose, opening window, turning faces to another side to protect themselves. These are the signs as to emitting malodour which patients misinterpret. This paper illustrates a 51-old male who suffers from halitosis since 30 years which is diagnosed as ORS and treated with clomipramine.

Resumen

La halitosis subjetiva es un trastorno crónico y no es fácilmente identificable o cuantificable con métodos objetivos. Los pacientes que se quejan de halitosis subjetiva por lo general consultan al dentista, pero evitan la consulta psiquiátrica. Una de las causas es el síndrome de referencia olfativo (SRO), que se reconoce como pensamientos delirantes u obsesivos. Los pacientes con SRO generalmente hacen referencia a los comportamientos de los demás, personas que cierran la boca, tosen y se tocan la nariz, abren la ventana o giran la cara hacia otro lado para protegerse. Estos son los signos del hecho de desprender mal aliento que los pacientes malinterpretan. Este artículo expone el caso de un varón de 51 años que sufre halitosis desde hace 30 años, que se diagnostica como SRO y se trata con clomipramina.