Anxiety and depression as risk factors for oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND

Stress and anxiety have frequently been mentioned as possible factors related to the development of oral lichen planus (OLP), although this association remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether anxiety and depression constitute risk factors in the development of OLP.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Eighty patients diagnosed as having OLP were studied: anxiety was evaluated by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and depression with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The results were contrasted with those obtained in a control series of the same number of subjects (n = 80) matched for age and sex.

RESULTS

Significantly greater anxiety and depression were observed among patients with OLP than in the control group. Odds ratios of 2.8 and 4.4 were obtained for anxiety and depression, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that anxiety and depression constitute risk factors that could influence the development of OLP.