title: Self-esteem as an important factor in quality of life and depressive symptoms in anosmia: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research has reported a negative impact of olfactory dysfunction on quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms. As self-esteem was identified as a contributing factor to depression, this study aimed to investigate QoL, depressive symptoms and self-esteem in patients with smell loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, in co-operation with the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two anosmic patients (12 females, 10 males) and 25 healthy controls (15 females, 10 males) participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Olfactory performance was assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks battery. In addition, psychological questionnaires that covered the topics quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), depressive symptoms (BDI-II) and self-esteem (MSWS) were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study revealed a decrease in QoL and reduced body-related self-esteem in anosmic patients. Furthermore, QoL and self-esteem were correlated with depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As self-esteem, QoL and depressive symptoms in anosmia interact with each other, we suggest that self-esteem should be considered in the medical history, in order to provide a personalised intervention, adapted to the patient's needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5983-5307
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kollndorfer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.|BioTechMed, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brückler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hinterleitner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.|BioTechMed, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schöpf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: olfaction; olfactory dysfunction; quality of life; self-esteem; sensory loss