Body Odor as Delusion

Abstract

A certain number of patients who complain of body odor exhibit perplexing psychological problems. They become obsessed with alleged body odor with no objective evidence to support their concern. Many of them have consulted other people who could not verify their symptoms, and yet these patients persist in the belief that their body odor is offensive. Eventually, most of them withdraw from the care of their usual physician, only to start a search for remedial treatment anew. Many of these patients have visited several different clinics and hospitals seeking permanent relief from this presumptive malodor. Since there has been no completely effective treatment in the past, especially for bromidrosis, they were not fully satisfied with any treatment received. On the other hand, even when effective treatment is completed, they refuse to accept the fact, persisting in the belief that nothing can rid them of offensive body odor. Some of these patients indicate symptoms as described below and in Table 11.1.