Linking burning mouth sensations, hidden oral health anxiety
A new case report published in Cureus, titled “Beyond Burning Mouth Pattern: A Veiled Masquerading Oral Health Anxiety Concern,” reveals that some patients experiencing unexplained oral burning sensations may actually be suffering from severe health anxiety rather than a physical disorder. The study highlights two cases in which patients developed intense fears, particularly of oral cancer, despite having no clinical signs of disease.
These patients fixated on benign oral anatomical variations and were heavily influenced by online misinformation, leading to a condition known as "cyberchondria." They engaged in frequent self-examinations and “doctor-shopping,” ultimately developing psychiatric symptoms such as depression and carcinophobia, or a fear of cancer.
The researchers wrote that burning mouth syndrome, a chronic pain condition with no identifiable cause, may sometimes mask underlying psychological distress. Misinterpretations of normal oral sensations, combined with poor emotional regulation and compulsive online searching, intensified health-related fears.
“The mere absence of a lesion does not equate to the absence of disease, especially when the disease is driven by psychological distress and distorted perception,” the report said.
Multidisciplinary treatment involving oral medicine specialists, psychiatrists and the use of cognitive behavioral therapy proved effective in managing these cases. Structured psychological support not only reduced symptoms but also improved quality of life, according to the report.
“Only by treating both the symptom and the psyche can true healing begin in such cases. By employing validated assessment tools such as the visual analog scale for symptom intensity, alongside measures of health anxiety and quality of life, clinicians can more accurately document treatment outcomes and patient progress,” the authors wrote.
Read more: Cureus
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