Psychiatric morbidity among patients with oral sub-mucous fibrosis: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic oral mucosal condition with pre-malignant potential. The association between psychiatric morbidity and OSF has been sparsely studied.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 33 consecutive subjects clinically diagnosed with OSF who attended an academic tertiary care dental centre. General Health Questionnaire-28 was administered to assess the psychological morbidity. Dependence to areca products was assessed using the ICD-10 criteria. Patient group was compared with an age and gender matched control group (n=33) from the same hospital that comprised patients who had dental diseases other than OSF and had no areca/tobacco habit.

RESULTS

Total mean scores (SD) of GHQ-28 for study group and control group respectively were 48.2 (18.1) vs. 24.2 (6.5) (P<0.001). Among the patient group, the mean total GHQ scores were significantly higher in those with functional stage C (those with worst functional staging) of OSF 63.4 (15.2) when compared with those with stage B 54 (14.2) and stage A 38.7 (17) (d.f.=2; P=0.005). 22 (66.7%) of patients met ICD-10 criteria for dependence to areca products.

CONCLUSIONS

OSF may be associated with considerable psychological morbidity. This morbidity may be significantly more in patients with worst functional staging. It is difficult to determine whether this is the cause or effect of the disease. Further systematic studies are urgently needed to address this issue.