Abstract
In some 15–30% of patients complaining of a serious breath odor problem, little or no malodor can be detected by the examiner either organoleptically by smelling the patient’s breath or using laboratory techniques (Quirynen et al. 2009; Seemann et al. 2006). These patients vary in their level of conviction regarding their perceived odor problem. Some are uncertain and just wish to confirm or rule out a breath odor problem, whereas others firmly believe that the problem exists. In extreme cases, patients may appear psychotic and/or contemplate suicide (Yaegaki and Coil 1999). Some researchers have dichotomously subclassified these patients into “Pseudohalitosis” and “Halitophobia” based on their treatment response and need of psychiatric consultation (Yaegaki and Coil 2000). Alternatively, other researchers regard “Halitophobia” as a “mild to severe” spectrum of conditions that includes any level of exaggerated concern of having a breath odor problem (Rosenberg and Leib 1997).
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Sterer, N., Rosenberg, M. (2011). Psychological Aspects of Breath Odors. In: Breath Odors. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19312-5_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19312-5_12
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