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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)01:27

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary classification system for mental health disorders, providing standardized diagnostic criteria for clinicians and researchers. First published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1952, the DSM has undergone several revisions to reflect evolving psychiatric understanding. The fifth edition, DSM-5, released in 2013, introduced key updates that expanded diagnostic categories and modified diagnostic...
Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

Taste Buds and Receptors

Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...

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A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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Olfactory reference syndrome: issues for DSM-V.

Jamie D Feusner1, Katharine A Phillips, Dan J Stein

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA. jfeusner@mednet.ucla.edu

Depression and Anxiety
|June 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) involves a persistent belief in emitting offensive body odor, causing significant distress. This review suggests ORS warrants further study for potential separate diagnosis in DSM-V.

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04:47

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

Published on: September 18, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Mental Health

Background:

  • Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) is characterized by preoccupation with emitting foul body odor, not perceived by others.
  • ORS causes significant distress and disability, with a century-long documented history.
  • Current diagnostic manuals (DSM-IV, ICD-10) do not explicitly define ORS, complicating its classification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) for diagnostic considerations in DSM-V.
  • To evaluate whether ORS should be a separate diagnosis or an example of another disorder.
  • To propose preliminary recommendations for ORS classification in DSM-V.

Main Methods:

  • Focused literature review on Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS).
  • Analysis of phenomenological overlap with related disorders (delusional disorder, social phobia, body dysmorphic disorder, OCD, hypochondriasis).
  • Evaluation of diagnostic criteria and classification options for DSM-V.

Main Results:

  • ORS symptoms can be nondelusional, posing a diagnostic challenge.
  • There is significant overlap with other psychiatric conditions, but ORS has a distinct clinical profile.
  • Research on ORS remains limited, making definitive classification difficult.

Conclusions:

  • Classifying ORS solely as delusional disorder is problematic due to its varied presentation.
  • Given its consistent description, morbidity, and growing research, ORS is recommended for DSM-V's Appendix of Criteria Sets Provided for Further Study.
  • Diagnostic criteria for ORS are suggested for further research and consideration.