Olfactory sensitivity through the course of psychosis: Relationships to olfactory identification, symptomatology and the schizophrenia odour

Abstract

There is some evidence for an unusual body odour in schizophrenia that has been linked to a hexenoic acid derivative (trans-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid; MHA). Poor body odour has been linked to increased negative symptoms and reduced olfactory identification ability. However, the relationship between these findings and MHA, including olfactory sensitivity for MHA, has not been examined. Olfactory sensitivity thresholds were assessed for MHA and n-butyl-alcohol (NBA), in normal controls (CTL; n = 24), patients with chronic schizophrenia (CHR; n = 32) and a first-episode psychosis cohort (FE; n = 31). In addition, forced choice detection of the pheromonal steroids 5-α-androst-16-en-3-one, androst..