Is olfactory reference syndrome an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder?: two cases and a discussion

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1998 Winter;10(1):96-9. doi: 10.1176/jnp.10.1.96.

Abstract

A number of disorders characterized by intrusive repetitive symptoms and varying degrees of insight may overlap phenomenologically and neurobiologically with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There is a question as to whether olfactory reference syndrome, a disorder characterized by persistent preoccupations about body odor accompanied by shame and embarrassment, is also an OCD spectrum disorder. Two cases of olfactory reference syndrome, with accompanying phenomenological and neurobiological data, are presented in order to discuss the possible overlap with OCD. A number of phenomenological and neurobiological features in these patients were at least partially reminiscent of OCD. In particular, despite having poor insight, both patients demonstrated significant improvement upon treatment with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnostic imaging
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Sensation Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Sensation Disorders / physiopathology
  • Sensation Disorders / psychology*
  • Smell*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors