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Koray M, Dülger O et al. Oral Diseases 2003; 9: 298–301

The relationship of stress and anxiety to OLP is unclear. In a Turkish clinic, 40 patients with OLP (mean age 35 yrs; 24 female) were compared with 40 controls (34 yrs; 22) who attended for general dental care. All were non-smokers. Because of the diurnal variation of salivary cortisol, stimulated saliva samples were collected between 0900 and 0915. State and trait anxiety were measured by Spielberger's questionnaire.

Mean salivary cortisol level was 1.46 μg/dl in the OLP group and 0.93 in the controls. Respective mean state anxiety scores were 49 and 39, and trait anxiety, 50 and 39. All these differences were significant at the 0.1% level. Logistic regression including these variables and gender gave a model which predicted group membership with a probability of 0.77. The authors suggest that patients with OLP might be given supportive psychological treatment in respect of stress.