Anxiety and higher levels of common odor awareness interlinked: JAD

Symptoms of anxiety seem to be associated with higher levels of everyday odor awareness. This corroborates the importance of olfactory functions in anxiety, according to the latest research published in the Journal of  Affective Disorders.

Diminished olfactory functioning has been reported in depression, whereas evidence in anxiety disorders is still controversial. Olfactory meta-cognitive abilities (i.e., olfactory awareness, imagery and reactivity, and the importance of odors) are essential in shaping olfaction.

This pre-registered study conducted by Elisa Dal Bò et. al examined the relationship between olfactory meta-cognitive abilities and symptoms of depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety.

Self-report measures of symptoms of depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety, along with self-report olfactory meta-cognitive scales, were collected using an online survey of 429 individuals. Participants completed psychological questionnaires, including the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale.

Linear regression analyses revealed that olfactory awareness and importance of common odors were significantly directly predicted by symptoms of general anxiety, while affective importance to odors was negatively predicted by symptoms of depression.

Regarding social odors, higher symptoms of depression and lower symptoms of social anxiety predicted increased awareness.Symptoms, anxiety, Affective Disorders, general anxiety, social anxiety, depression,