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.