title: Is olfactory reference syndrome an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder?: two cases and a discussion.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Le Roux
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouwer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Heerden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012903:Smell; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors