Project Details
Projekt
Basic principles of stimulus processing and perception in Olfactory Reference Syndrome
Applicant
Dr. Anja Grocholewski
Subject Area
Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
Term
from 2015 to 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 276806116
Individuals suffering from Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) are convinced that they emit an unpleasing body odor (although this odor is not perceived by others), which leads to social rejection. They misinterpret harmless gestures and facial expressions as rejection and evidence of the existence of the odor. Subsequently, they try to get rid of the odor, which often leads to repetitive behaviors or mental acts. Because most ORS-literature refers to single case reports, it is difficult to make conclusions about epidemiology, phenomenology, or key factors that underlie vulnerability to, and maintenance of, ORS. Further, it seems unclear, if ORS is an entity, or a phenotype of another mental disorder.To follow up this question, a group of 40 individuals with olfactory concerns (including 15 individuals suffering from ORS) shall run several experiments, in comparison to mentally healthy controls. The questions are:1. Which relevant feature separates individuals with olfactory concerns, but without psychological strain and repetitive behaviors or mental acts from individuals suffering from ORS (olfactory concerns, psychological strain and repetitive behaviors or mental acts)? The level of social anxiety, the rating of the own body odor, and the degree of the belief, the odor is smelled and judged as negative by others, shall be compared.2. Is perception of the own body odor the basis for ORS (internal trigger), or a symptom of ORS (external trigger)? Behavior analyses shall explore, whether external triggers activate perceptions. Moreover, a potentially rejection by others (because of odor, appearance, or habitus) shall be checked.3. Is the olfactory discrimination ability in individuals with olfactory concerns not sufficient? This shall be tested by presentation of olfactory tests (own odor, and odor of an unfamiliar individual). 4. Is the emotional response resulting from the olfactory tests stronger in ORS (compared to individuals with olfactory concerns, but without ORS, and mentally healthy controls)? This shall be evaluated by mimic analyses.5. Is the body odor of individuals with olfactory concerns systematically different from the body odor of mentally healthy individuals (referring to the chemical compounds)? This shall be analyzed by chemical analyses. The above-mentioned investigations may enhance our etiological understanding of ORS.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
