Burning Mouth Syndrome in the Era of Patient-Centered Medicine

In this issue of JAMA Otolaryngology –Head& Neck Surgery, J.-Y. Kim et al report a population-based study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service –National Sample Cohort database that collected data on a large nationwide cohort. The main aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of psychopathological (anxiety and depression) and neurological (dementia and Parkinson disease) conditions in patients with a clinical diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome (patient group) who were matched with individuals without burning mouth syndrome (comparison group). The hypothesis was that a shared neuropathic mechanism common to all these conditions might be a factor in the increased incidence of each condition in patients with burning mouth syn drome. The results indicated a high incidence of anxiety and depression solely in the patient group and no differences in the incidence of dementia or Parkinson disease. The finding of a comorbid association of burning mouth syndrome with anxiety and depression is not new, but it requires answers be cause it represents further substantial indications of both a scientific challenge and a clinical problem. From a scientific point of view, the findings indicate a need for further research into the role of psychological factors in burning mouth syndrome.
Source: JAMA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research