Both anxiety and joint laxity determine the olfactory features in panic disorder.

Previous research showed a high sensitivity in sensorial modalities in panic disorder (PD). This disorder has been consistently associated to the joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS). In non-clinical samples, this collagen alteration has been also related to an enhanced sensitivity in some sensorial modalities. The main aim of this study is to explore the olfactory functioning in PD in relation to JHS. Sixty patients with PD and sixty healthy controls performed the Sniffin' Sticks Test (SST) (threshold subtest), and completed the Affective Impact of Odors scale (AIO), the Relational Scale of Olfaction (EROL), and the Odor Awareness Scale (OAS). Clinical symptom rating scales and JHS assessment were also obtained. PD patients showed enhanced odor acuity, greater reactivity to smells and also increased odor awareness compared to the healthy controls. Within the patients group, those suffering from JHS displayed higher functioning in all olfactory domains compared to the non-JHS ones. The JHS and anxiety measures emerged as predictor variables of the olfactory function. The present findings highlight the importance of the olfactory function in PD and underline that both, JHS and anxiety, determine the olfactory characteristics in this disorder.

Olfactory functioning in panic disorder.

BACKGROUND: The olfactory function in panic disorder (PD) has been scarcely approached in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to study this question by focusing on the olfactory sensitivity (i.e. detection threshold), the reactivity to odors, and the odor awareness in patients suffering from PD. METHODS: 41 patients with PD and 41 healthy controls performed Sniffin׳ Sticks Test (threshold subtest) and completed the Affective Impact of Odors scale (AIO), the Relational Scale of Olfaction (EROL) and the Odor Awareness Scale (OAS). Clinical symptoms rating scales were concurrently obtained. RESULTS: PD patients showed lower olfactory detection thresholds (i.e. higher sensitivity) along with an enhanced reactivity to odors as well as a greater olfactory awareness compared to the healthy controls. The severity of PD was significantly associated with the olfactory questionnaires ratings, but not with the detection ability. Olfactory measures were intercorrelated in most cases. LIMITATIONS: i) The results of the olfactory sensitivity are limited to one odorant (phenyl ethyl alcohol) and thus may not be generalizable to other odorants. ii) As comorbid Axis II disorders were not screened, it is not possible to exclude the influence of personality traits in our results. iii) The involvement of the medications in some olfactory outcomes cannot be ruled out. CONCLUSION: The current findings highlight the importance of the olfactory function in PD as patients appeared to be highly sensitive, reactive and aware of odors. These results are discussed in the light of the common neural substrates involved in the olfactory processing and in the pathophysiology of PD, and also related to the clinical features of this disorder.

EROL scale: a new behavioural olfactory measure and its relationship with anxiety and depression symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of this study was to develop and validate a new olfactory measure that assesses the influence of olfaction on several emotional, behavioural, and cognitive issues: The Relational Scale of Olfaction (EROL). A secondary objective was to explore the relationship between the olfactory function and the anxiety and depression symptoms by means of EROL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A positive relationship between anxiety symptoms and the olfactory function was hypothesized. Regarding depressive symptoms, a significant relationship with the olfactory scores was not expected. METHOD: Psychometric properties of EROL scale and correlations between HADS and EROL were tested in a sample from the general population. RESULTS: EROL showed an adequate level of test-retest reliability (ICC=.748) and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=.761). Convergent validity with other olfactory measures was satisfactory. A one-factor solution was found for the scale. HADS showed a significant relationship with EROL (r=.280, p<.01), but the analysis through dimensions revealed that only the anxiety subscale correlated significantly and moderately with the olfactory measure (r=.325, p<.001), whereas the correlation with the depression subscale was non-significant (r=.146, p>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Given that EROL displayed good psychometrical properties, it appears as a suitable tool to assess the olfactory function in general population. The relationship between this olfactory scale and anxiety symptoms found in this study is an interesting issue that requires further research.

Olfaction in affective and anxiety disorders: a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Olfaction and its relation to mental health is an area of growing interest. Brain areas linked to olfaction partially overlap with brain areas involved in psychiatric disorders; consequently, the study of olfactory function allows us to explore the integrity of these brain areas with a non-invasive and effective method. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to review olfactory function in affective and anxiety disorders. METHODS: For this purpose, an extensive literature review of English-language studies on olfactory function in patients with the aforementioned pathologies was performed using several online databases. A manual search of relevant journals and books as well as reference lists from selected papers was also performed. RESULTS: The available data show that depressed patients are usually characterised by preserved olfactory function, except for detection threshold, where contrasting reports have been found. Bipolar disorder has been studied to a lesser extent, but the findings have shown a lack of impairment in most cases. Research on seasonal affective disorders is scant, and future studies are needed to make conclusions. Anxiety disorders have been scarcely approached, but the results note identification deficits in obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Olfactory assessment appears to be a complementary, valuable research tool in the study of psychiatric disorders. However, further investigation is needed to improve our understanding of olfactory function in these disorders.

[The Spanish version of two olfactory scales: reliability and validity]. / Versión española de dos escalas olfatorias: fiabilidad y validez.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that smells have marked effects on behavior, cognition and on emotional responses. Therefore, it is very useful to have at our disposal instruments that allow us the measure these effects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Spanish version of the Affective Impact of Odors scale (AIO) and the Odor Awareness Scale (OAS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out on a sample of 100 participants from the general population. The internal consistency was measured by Cronbach's alpha and the test-retest reliability, by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Convergent validity was assessed by means of Pearson correlation coefficient between the scales and three olfactory measures used as external criteria. As an additional measure of convergent validity, the relationship between AIO and OAS was also assessed. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out to determine the internal structure of the scales. RESULTS: The Spanish version of AIO and OAS showed a good internal consistency level with Cronbach's alpha of 0.727 and 0.906, respectively. ICC values pointed out a high test-retest reliability (AIO=0.780; OAS=0.895). Convergent validity of these measures was overall satisfactory. A one-factor solution was found for every scale. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of OAS and AIO scales meets psychometric criteria for establishing satisfactory reliability and validity. Thus, they could be considered as suitable research tools for the assessment of the olfactory function in Spanish general population.