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. 2014 Feb 7;5:45. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00045

Table 1.

Summary of studies of olfactory sensitivity in affective disorders.

Study Number of participants (f/m) and diagnosis Mean age ± SD Severity-scores Odorants and test method Olfactory sensitivity
Gross-Isseroff et al., 1994 C: 9 (8/1) C: 49,11 ± 4.82 P: 24.11 ± 1.17 (Day 0), Androstenone, isoamyl acetate, three way forced choice ascending method Day 0 and Day 21: P = C,
P: 9 (8/1); MDD P: 49.00 ± 4.56 11.67 ± 1.13 (Day 21), Day 42: P > C (isoamyl acetate)
6.44 ± 0.58 (Day 42, HAM-D)
Krüger et al., 2006 BPD + ETE: 7 (1/6) BPD + ETE: 33.9 ± 10.7 BPD + ETE: 0.8 ± 1 (HAM-D) 0.8 ± 1.2 (SRMI) PEA, Sniffin' Sticks BPD + ETE > BPD – ETE
BPD – ETE: 9 (5/4) BPD – ETE: 46.1 ± 11.6 BPD – ETE: 0.4 ± 0.7 (HAM-D) 1.4 ± 1 (SRMI)
Lombion-Pouthier et al., 2006 C: 58 (36/22) C: 38.4 ± 13.96 P: 23.75 ± 5.74 (BDI) L-carvone, tetrahydrothiopene, Test Olfactif P < C
P: 49 (35/14); MDD P: 43.4 ± 17.54
Negoias et al., 2010 C: 21 (15/6) C: 39.62 ± 11.39 P: 29.67 ± 10.84 (BDI) PEA, Sniffin' Sticks, laterized P < C
P: 21 (17/4); MDD P: 36.86 ± 10.13
Pause et al., 2001 1. Session: C: 24 (15/9) P: 24 (15/9); MDD C: 44.2 ± 12.6 C: 4.8 ± 2.5 (BDI) PEA, eugenol, 2alt.-staircase P < C
P: 48.4 ± 13.2 P: 28.5 ± 11.4 (BDI)
2. Session: C: 18 (13/5) P: 18 (13/5); MDD in remission C: 46.6 ± 12.8 C: 4.6 ± 3.4 (BDI) PEA, eugenol, 2alt.-staircase P = C
P: 47.9 ± 13.4 P: 11.5 ± 7.1 (BDI)
Pause et al., 2005 C: 11 (6/5) C: 33.0 ± 8.6 C: 2.1 ± 2.3 (BDI) PEA, menthol, 2alt.-staircase P < C
P: 11 (7/4); MDD (drug-free) P: 32.7 ± 5.5 P: 17.7 ± 6.9 (BDI)
Postolache et al., 1999 C: 24 (17/7) C: 42.1 ± 11.8 / PEA, 2alt.-staircase P (SAD) = C
P: 24 (17/7); SAD P: 42.8 ± 9.7
Postolache et al., 2002 C: 16 (9/7) C: 39.0 ± 10.8 / PEA, 2alt.-staircase P (SAD) > C
P: 14(7/7); SAD P: 42.3 ± 11.5
Serby et al., 1990, 1992 C: 9 (/) C: 50 – 59 P: 19.9 ± 1.6 (HAM-D) Geraniol, forced-choice ascending method P < C (p < 0.1)
P: 9 (0/9); MDD (drug free) P: 50 – 59
Swiecicki et al., 2009 C: 30 (20/10) C: 35.4 ± 2.1 C: 0.5 ± 0.3 (HAM-D), 1.9 ± 0.5 (BDI) n-butanol, Sniffin' Sticks RDD = BP = C
P: 46 (RDD: 20, BPD: 21) RDD: 35.7 ± 2.3 RDD: 15.2 ± 1.6 (HAM-D), 27.2 ± 2.8 (BDI);
BPD: 14.1 ± 1.0 (HAM-D), 23.2 ± 1.8 (BDI) BPD: 39.6 ± 2.5
Thomas et al., 2002 C: 24 / 23.8 ± 9.5 (BDI) / P < C (p < 0.1)
P: 16 (unselected depressed with major depressive episode)

f, female; m, male; C, controls; P, patients; MDD, major depressive disorder; HAM-D, Hamilton Depression Rating-Scale; =, no difference between groups; P > C, patients performed better than controls; P < C, patients performed worse than controls; BPD + ETE, bipolar disorder with event triggered episodes; BPD – ETE, bipolar disorder without event triggered episodes; SRMI, Self-Report Manic Inventory; PEA, phenyl-ethylalcohol; BDI, Beck's Depression Inventory; 2alt.-staircase, two-alternative staircase detection procedure; SAD, Seasonal affective disorder; RDD, unipolar recurrent depressive disorder; BPD, bipolar disorder; /, no information available.

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