Abstract
We report on the case of a patient who suffered from cenestopathy in the oral region.
The patient had first visited the dental office and received dental treatment three months earlier. Cenestopatic symptoms, such as the illusion of strange substances emerging from the eeth, the arose in the oral region.
In this case, the cenestopathy in the oral region was not thought to be a prodromal or partial manifestation of schizophrenia. We thought that it was a kind of delusional disorder. We treated the patient with brief psychotherapy and drug therapy.
When treating cenestopathy, attention must be paid to the possible development of schizophrenic symptoms. Since patients with cenestopathic symptoms similar to those found in this case frequently first seek dental treatment for their symptoms, dentists should be aware of the signs of cenestopathy and advise such patients to see a psychiatrist when appropriate.
The patient has recently been visiting the hospital about once a month and we encourage him to talk about his anxiety and ask questions on the cenestopathic symptoms in order to dispel the fear that they will recur.
