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Forty-nine patients with burning mouth syndrome were simultaneously evaluated through a psychiatric interview and a psychopathologic questionnaire (SCL-90). The same protocol was applied to a control group (n = 47) free of oral complaints and with a similar age and sex distribution. The subgroup with burning mouth syndrome and associated psychiatric disorders differed from the subgroup of patients without psychiatric disorders in that the former exhibited significantly more symptoms of anxiety, depression, obsession, somatization, and hostility. This latter parameter appears to be present particularly among depressed persons. No significant psychopathologic differences were observed between the subgroup with BMS who exhibited no psychiatric disorders and the controls who were free of oral disorders.

Seventy-four patients with burning mouth syndrome underwent a psychiatric interview; Hamilton's Depression and Anxiety Scales were applied independently. A psychiatric diagnosis was established in 38 cases (51.35%). Depression was the predominant disorder. The evaluation scales showed that when present, anxiety greatly influences the psychiatric condition of these patients. The differences in the results obtained with the two methods are discussed.

Seven patients with lichen planus of the oral mucosa (four with erosive and three with reticular types of the disease) were studied; they were treated with 500 mg of griseofulvin twice daily for 2 1/2 months. In no case was improvement observed; on the contrary, in four patients (two with erosive and two with reticular forms) the condition worsened.