@article{ref1,
title="Olfactory reference syndrome: demographic and clinical features of imagined body odor",
journal="General hospital psychiatry",
year="2011",
author="Phillips, Katharine A. and Menard, William",
volume="33",
number="4",
pages="398-406",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) - preoccupation with a false belief that one emits a foul or offensive body odor - has been described around the world for more than a century. However, only a few small studies have systematically assessed ORS's clinical features. METHOD: Twenty patients with ORS were systematically assessed using semistructured measures. RESULTS: Subjects' mean age was 33.4±14.1; 60% were female. Preoccupation most often focused on the mouth (75%), armpits (60%) and genitals (35%). Bad breath (75%) and sweat (65%) were the most common odor descriptions. Currently, 85% of subjects had delusional ORS beliefs, 77% had referential thinking and 85% reported actually smelling the odor. Ninety-five percent of subjects reported performing one or more ORS-related repetitive behaviors (e.g., excessive showering). Forty percent had been housebound for at least 1 week because of ORS symptoms, 68% had a history of suicidal ideation, 32% had attempted suicide and 53% had been psychiatrically hospitalized. Forty-four percent of subjects had sought nonpsychiatric medical, surgical or dental treatment for the perceived odor, and one third had received such treatment, which was ineffective in all cases. CONCLUSION: ORS appears to be characterized by high morbidity and seeking of nonpsychiatric treatment.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0163-8343",
doi="10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2011.04.004",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2011.04.004"
}