Karishma
When smell becomes the shadow: a case report of olfactory reference disorder
Journal title : Yemen Journal of Medicine
Publisher : Mansa STM Publishers
Online ISSN : 2583-4614
Page Number : 174-177
Journal volume : 04
Journal issue : 01
86 Views Case Report
Olfactory Reference Disorder (ORD) is defined by a continuous fixation on the belief that one is exuding an unpleasant or offensive body odor or breath, which is either imperceptible or only marginally detectable by others. This report describes a 26-year-old male who sought assistance due to his conviction of emitting a foul odor from his mouth and nose, prompting him to visit multiple dentists and otolaryngologists. His condition led to social withdrawal, resulting in feelings of despair and powerlessness. The Mental Status Examination (MSE) revealed a depressed mood, suicidal thoughts, and an obsession with the perceived smell. Both MRI and EEG findings were normal. The patient was diagnosed with ORD and depression based on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale – Olfactory Reference Syndrome (YBOCS-ORS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). He was prescribed fluoxetine at a dosage of 40 mg, along with a low dose of olanzapine. Furthermore, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was initiated to support his recovery. Ultimately, the patient secured employment. Although he continued to have lingering thoughts of an unpleasant odor at a low intensity, he managed to function adequately and engage in social interactions more effectively.
Article DOI & Crossmark Data
DOI : https://doi.org/10.63475/yjm.v4i1.0058
Article Subject Details
Article Keywords Details
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder
- Olfactory Reference Syndrome
- Olfactory Reference Disorder
Article File
Full Text PDFMore Article by Karishma
The internal medicine residency program at hamad medical corporation (hmc) is accredited by the accreditation council for graduate medical education–international (acgme-i). upon c...
The city that never sleeps, a vibrant tapestry of dense neighborhoods and relentless energy, has long grappled with the pervasive challenge of air pollution. the very dynamism that...
Background: acute and chronic heart or kidney failure affect each other in cardiorenal syndromes (crs). in crs, hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic changes occur, causing acute or prog...
Dignity therapy (dt) is an evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach originally designed to alleviate emotional and existential distress in patients with terminal illnesses. while ...