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A systematic review on olfaction in child and adolescent psychiatric disorders

  • Biological Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Review article
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Abstract

There is substantial evidence that olfactory function may serve as biomarker in adult neuropsychiatric disorders, e.g. overall diminished olfaction in Parkinson’s disease as parameter for early pre-motor and differential diagnosis. Here, we present data from a systematic literature review in olfactory function in child and adolescent psychiatric disorders and report two unpublished data sets of autism and obsessive–compulsive disorder. The overall number of olfaction studies is low—even after taking into account adult samples. In addition, heterogeneity of findings is high due to methodological limitations such as the use of different olfactory tests and odours targeting the olfactory and/or the trigeminal system and neglecting possible confounders, e.g., intelligence or oto-rhino-laryngological affections. Despite these limitations, there is some indication for specific alterations of olfactory function especially in disorders with dopaminergic pathology (e.g. attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, schizophrenia, 22q11 deletion syndrome). Dopamine is a relevant modulator of early processes in the olfactory bulb. Our systematic review provides the basis for future confirmatory studies investigating olfaction as putative biomarker in child and adolescent psychiatric disorders. We further propose studies of thorough and elaborate methodological standards in combination with imaging techniques and the investigation of the influence of genetic variation on olfactory function.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been accomplished as part of the medical doctoral thesis of Sebastian Volkmann and the psychological diploma thesis of Bettina Hummel. This work was supported by an editorial grant of the Münchner Medizinische Wochenzeitschrift. We also want to thank numerous doctoral candidates and psychological diplomates without their intensive efforts this work would not have been possible: Bettina Hummel, Miriam Roos, Christoph Pfannstiel, Maria Reidelbach, Katharina Kirchgäßner, Susanne Aucktor, Matthias Schaldecker, Eva Schenk, Julia Brast, Katharina Kraus, Laura Albantakis, Lennart Reefschläger and Benjamin Lyttwin. We thank all children and adults who spent their time for participation in our studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 84, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Martin Schecklmann

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

    Christina Schwenck & Christine Freitag

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Regina Taurines, Andreas Warnke, Manfred Gerlach & Marcel Romanos

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  1. Martin Schecklmann
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  2. Christina Schwenck
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  3. Regina Taurines
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  4. Christine Freitag
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Correspondence to Martin Schecklmann.

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Schecklmann, M., Schwenck, C., Taurines, R. et al. A systematic review on olfaction in child and adolescent psychiatric disorders. J Neural Transm 120, 121–130 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-012-0855-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-012-0855-2

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