Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) has been defined as a psychiatric condition characterized by persistent preoccupation about body odor accompanied by shame, embarrassment, significant distress and avoidance behavior. Patients often limit their public appearances and restrict their social and occupational encounters. In DSM-IV, delusions about personal odor are described as an example of the somatic subtype of delusional disorder. However, patients with ORS are different from delusional disorder. These patients feel themselves responsible from the smell and live a shame. In this article, we present a case of a 32 year old single male whose delusion of emitting a foul body odor has caused significant depressive symptoms. He showed remarkable improvement with a combination of paroxetine and olanzapine therapy. ORS is discussed in the light of literature with regard to diagnosis and treatment.
Key words: Olfactory reference syndrome, monosymptomatic hypochondriac psychosis, social phobia, delusional disorder, psychotic disorder, major depression
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