Anxiety and salivary cortisol levels in patients with burning mouth syndrome: case-control study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the anxiety and salivary cortisol levels in patients with burning mouth syndrome. A case-control ed into 2 groups: BMS, with diagnosis of the syndrome, and control, without any complaint of burning mouth. Anamnesis, oral examination, sialometry, the application anxiety inventory, and 3 saliva samples for cortisol analysis were done in every patient. Statistical difference for subjective xerostomia was found on the BMS group (P = .01), but salivary flow rate was normal in both groups. BMS group presented higher anxiety (P = .001) and salivary cortisol levels (P = .003) when compared with the control group. Higher anxiety and salivary cortisol levels were positively associated with the presence of BMS.