Oral submucous fibrosis and its impact on psychological stress: a case-control study

Our aim was to evaluate the impact of OSF on psychological stress. Ninety OSF cases and age and sex-matched controls, enrolled from relatives or accompanying person were included in the study. Psychological stress was evaluated by the Psychological General Well Being Index short version (PGWBI-S). Sets of the psychological component were generated by principal component analysis (PCA). Association between components was accommodated for confounder and interaction was evaluated by conditional stepwise logistic regression analysis. Psychological component generated was component 1 (depressed mood, lack of positive well being, low vitality, anxiety, low vitality, and low self-control). The odds ratio (OR) of low score of component 1 for OSF was 3.66. Depressed mood, lack of positive well being, low vitality, anxiety, low vitality, and low self-control were associated with OSF. Psychological intervention should, therefore, be included in the management of OSF.