[Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS): Presentation of a Case]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Dermatology

Context:

• A 34-year-old patient presented with social harassment, exclusion, and derision attributed to body odor.
• Multiple medical consultations across various specialties were undertaken.
• Previous evaluations excluded dermatological pathology and other patient-proposed conditions.

Purpose:

• To investigate the psychiatric underpinnings of a patient's perceived body odor causing significant social distress.
• To establish a differential diagnosis for a condition presenting with social harassment linked to a specific physical symptom.

Summary:

• Psychiatric clinical interview and diagnostic techniques were employed.
• The patient's primary complaint was persistent, distressing body odor.
• Differential diagnosis considered obsessive-compulsive disorder and monosymptomatic psychosis.

Impact:

• Highlights the importance of psychiatric evaluation in cases of perceived physical symptoms causing social dysfunction.
• Underscores the complexity of diagnosing conditions where somatic complaints may mask underlying psychiatric disorders.
• Informs clinical practice regarding the differential diagnosis of body odor-related distress.