Investigation of unirhinal olfactory identification in antipsychotic-free patients experiencing a first-episode schizophrenia.
Although olfactory deficits have been reported in patients with schizophrenia, few studies have examined whether these deficits are lateralized or investigated their possible clinical correlates. In this study, we administered the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) unirhinally (one nostril at a time) to 15 patients experiencing a first-episode of schizophrenia and 17 healthy comparison subjects. Clinical and olfactory assessments were conducted on the same day in patients while they were antipsychotic drug-free. Patients performed more poorly compared to healthy volunteers in their ability to identify odors across both nostrils, but there were no group differences in right and left nostril impairment. Among patients, greater deficits in grooming and hygiene correlated significantly and more strongly with poorer ability in identifying odors presented to the left compared to the right nostril. Our findings suggest that deficits in grooming and hygiene, including poor body odor, observed in patients experiencing a first-episode of schizophrenia are associated with an impairment in left nostril, and possibly left hemisphere, olfactory processing.
Department of Psychiatry Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Zucker Hillside Hospital, 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA. szeszko@lij.edu
Philip R
PR
Szeszko
John
J
Bates
Delbert
D
Robinson
John
J
Kane
Robert M
RM
Bilder
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*