An olfactory reference syndrome -- monosymptomatic hypochondriasis.

Monosymptomatic hypochondriacal syndromes have received little attention in the American psychiatric literature. A 5 year follow-up of a patient, who had originally sought treatment after experiencing an olfactory reference syndrome for 4 years, revealed diagnostic stability and no change in symptoms. The case is discussed in reference to the foreign literature on these states which appear to be distinct from schizophrenic or affective disorders.