DETECTION OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL TRENDS IN GLOSSODYNIA PATIENTS

Glossodynia affects primarily middle-aged women. Although many possible etiologies have been proposed for the syndrome, most have not been substantiated. In the present study 56 glossodynia patients were evaluated for their psychopathologic profile as reflected by the SCL-90 questionnaire. The data show that glossodynia patients present a relatively high psychopathologic profile, especially on the scales of somatization and depression. Significant correlations were found between the intensity of pain experienced by the patients and some of the SCL-90 scales (somatization, depression, anxiety, GSI and PSDI). No correlations were found between SCL-90 scores and duration of symptoms, prevalence of symptoms per day and patient's condition during the past year. Patients living alone were found to differ significantly from those living with a significant other (overall group effect significant at the 0.01 level). The data suggest that psychopathologic trends may be associated with glossodynia.