Dry Mouth and Oral Pathologic Lesions in Women With Psychiatric Disorders Hospitalized in Two Selected Hospitals in Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In addition to diseases, patients with psychiatric disorders are at risk of oral and dental problems. The present study aims to investigate dental mouth and oral pathologic lesions in women with psychiatric disorders hospitalized in two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 43 women with psychiatric disorders hospitalized in Modarres and Khorshid hospitals in Isfahan, Iran in 2019 participated. Using a checklist, their demographic information including age, duration of hospitalization, type of disease, and educational level were recorded. Then, their oral cavity was examined in terms of dental health and pathological lesions. The data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 21 using Fishers’ exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and logistic regression analysis. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Of 43 women with a mean age of 36.7±13.8 years, 72% had oral lesions. The most common lesions were red-white lesions (23.1%). Moreover, 37.2% of women had dry mouth and 16.3% had self-inflicted oral injury. Dry mouth was significantly associated with the type of lesions and diseases. Self-inflicted oral injury was significantly associated with acute ulcers (P=0.001). Conclusion: Dry mouth and self-inflicted oral injury are high among hospitalized women with psychiatric disorders in Isfahan, Iran. Regular follow-up in psychiatric patients can reduce the incidence of oral lesions and dental caries, or help in their earlier diagnosis and better treatment.