GLOSSODYNIA - PERSONALITY-CHARACTERISTICS AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Background. Glossodynia or burning mouth syndrome has been suggested t o be a multifunctional disorder. Etiologic factors that have been repo rted include hematologic or vitamin deficiencies, denture factors, the climacteric, infections or endocrinological disorders. On the other h and psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression and phobias hav e been reported to play a significant role at the beginning of this no sological entity. It seems therefore that there are two main categorie s of glossodynia, one with a detectable organic etiology and another w ith a psychologic origin. The purpose of this study was to provide fur ther information concerning the personality characteristics and the in cidence of psychopathology in patients suffering from glossodynia with out an organic etiology. Methods. Twenty-five patients suffering from glossodynia and 25 control subjects, matched for sex and age, particip ated in the study. Patients and controls were assessed concerning thei r psychosomatic morbidity. Both groups were given psychometric instrum ents (SRSD, STAI, EPQ, HDHQ, SSPS) for the assessment of personality c haracteristics and psychopathological symptoms. Results. Patients were significantly differentiated from controls with respect to all factor s of HDHQ; they exhibited more hostility, either introverted or extrov erted, than control subjects. The patients also had significantly high er values in the N (neuroticism) and the L (lie) factors of the EPQ. C oncerning the other psychometric measurements there were no significan t differences. Patients also had significantly higher rates of psychos omatic morbidity than controls. Conclusions. Our findings indicate tha t hostility - especially introverted hostility - neuroticism and possi bly depression are important components of the psychological profile o f patients suffering from glossodynia.