Assessment of anxiety and depression in patients with burning mouth syndrome: A clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION

Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic pain syndrome primarily affecting elderly women with hormonal changes or psychological disorders. It is multifactorial in origin, often idiopathic and its etiopathogenesis, majorly being neuropathic, largely remains enigmatic.

AIM

To determine the prevalence of burning mouth symptom, in elderly women and evaluate local and systemic causes responsible for burning sensation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

100 elderly postmenopausal women were included in the study out of which 56 had a chief complaint of burning sensation. These patients were evaluated for the levels of anxiety and depression by means of questionnaire. The severity of burning and the response to the treatment was assessed with a five point Visual Analog Scale. The results were analyzed using "Chi-square test".

RESULTS

There was statistically significant increase in the levels of anxiety and depression in the study group.

CONCLUSION

The present study clearly indicates that most of the patients had moderate to severe levels of depression, which suggests that anxiety and depression are constant features in postmenopausal female patients.