Vulnerability and presenting symptoms in burning mouth syndrome

Vulnerability and presenting symptoms in burning mouth syndrome
January 2005
Received 26 June 2003; Revised 5 December 2003; accepted 28 January 2004 Belfast, Northern Ireland, London, England, and Dallas, Tex
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON, AND BAYLOR COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY Available online 13 December 2004.
Philip-John Lamey BSc, BDS, MBChB, DDS, FDS, RCPS, FFD, RCSI, a, Ruth Freeman BDS, PhD, MSc, DDPH, RCS, MMedSc(psych), MFPHM, RCPa, Sally-Anne Eddie BDSa, Caroline Pankhurst BDS, MRCPath, PhDb and Terry Rees DDS, MSDc
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology
Volume 99, Issue 1
ScienceDirect
a Professor or Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, UK
b Senior Lecturer, King's College of London, England, UK
c Visiting Practitioner, Baylor College of Dentistry, Houston, Tex, USA
Abstract
Objectives
To investigate if burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients have differing health perceptions, medication, and life experiences compared with controls and to examine the role of vulnerability factors and differentiate them from the presenting symptomology in patients with BMS.
Study design
A nonprobability convenience sample of patients presenting with BMS and age- and sex-matched controls were recruited from Queen's University, Belfast, King's College London, and Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas. Participants completed a questionnaire to assess 9 aspects of their medical and social history, including early and past life experiences. The subjects completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to assess current distress.
Results
Participants with BMS had significantly higher experiences of adverse early life experiences compared with controls. They had statistically significantly higher mean scores for anxiety and depression compared with controls. A hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the characteristics of BMS included cancer phobia, gastro-intestinal problems, and chronic fatigue.
Conclusion
BMS is a complex disorder. People who experience adverse life experiences may become vulnerable to developing BMS in later life.
Corresponding author. Reprint requests: Professor P-J Lamey Professor of Oral Medicine School of Dentistry Queen's University, Belfast RVH, Grosvenor Road Belfast BT12 6BP Northern Ireland