Analysis of pathologic subjective halitosis using psychological scales and development of clinical guideline for general practitioners

• Project/Area Number: 16K15857
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social dentistry
• Research Institution: Kyushu Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Ansai Toshihiro 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (80244789)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高橋 徹 福岡女子大学, 人間環境科学研究科, 准教授 (80324292) ; 平田 裕美 女子栄養大学, 栄養学部, 准教授 (60401585) ; 岩崎 正則 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 准教授 (80584614) ; 邵 仁浩 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (10285463) ; 角田 聡子 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 助手 (70364156) ; 片岡 正太 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 助教 (40808010)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
• Keywords: 口臭 / 仮性口臭症 / 社交不安 / 口臭症 / 自己臭症 / 心理尺度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pathologic subjective halitosis is known as a halitosis complaint without objective confirmation of halitosis by others or by halitometer measurements; it has been reported to be associated with social anxiety disorder. However, causal relationship between pathological subjective halitosis and psychological variables remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated potential causal relationships among pathologic subjective halitosis, olfactory reference syndrome, social anxiety, and preoccupations with body part odors. A total of 1360 female students answered a self-administered questionnaire. Bayesian network analysis showed that social anxiety directly influenced pathologic subjective halitosis and olfactory reference syndrome. Preoccupations with mouth and body odors also influenced pathologic subjective halitosis. Social anxiety may be a causal factor of pathologic subjective halitosis and olfactory reference syndrome.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Relationships between pathologic subjective halitosis, olfactory reference syndrome, and social anxiety in young Japanese women (2017)
  • Author(s): Miho Tsuruta, Toru Takahashi, Miki Tokunaga, Masanori Iwasaki, Shota Kataoka, Satoko Kakuta, Inho Soh, Shuji Awano, Hiromi Hirata, Masaharu Kagawa and Toshihiro Ansai
  • Journal Title: BMC Psychology Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-1
  • DOI: 10.1186/s40359-017-0176-1
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Relationships between pathologic subjective halitosis, olfactory reference syndrome, and social anxiety in young Japanese women. (2017)
  • Author(s): Tsuruta M. et al.
  • Journal Title: BMC Phychology Volume: 14 Pages: 7-14
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Influence of social anxiety on pathologic subjective halitosis. (2017)
  • Author(s): Tsuruta M. et al.
  • Organizer: Asia-Pacific Conference in Fukuoka 2017
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 仮性口臭症傾向に関わる心理特性に関する検討 (2017)
  • Author(s): 安細敏弘、ほか
  • Organizer: 九州口腔衛生学会
• [Presentation] Jikoshu-Kyofu with one's foul mouth odor and psychological scales. (2016)
  • Author(s): Tsuruta, M. et al.
  • Organizer: IADR
  • Place of Presentation: ソウル
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-22
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Remarks] 九州歯科大学地域健康開発歯学分野
  • URL: http://www2.kyu-dent.ac.jp/dept/oral-health/index.html