Tw enty patients with typical glossodynia were examined from a psychological aspect.
They all had premorbid inclination toward hypochondriasis and obsession (e. g., punctiliousness, or extreme perfectionism).
Perseveration in response to “ superficial sensation of paresthesia of the tongue” occurring secondary to dental treatment or onset of stomatitis was the basis of the symptoms. According to time-course changes in the symptoms, patients attributed an erroneous significance to normal oral tissues, by which the lingual tonsil and lingual papilla were recognized as abnormal. They also showed signs of “ cancerphobia” because they were in the cancer-associated age group or had a past or present history of cancer in their near relatives. These findings, which are three important causative factors of this condition, were found to be common
