Psychosocial Impact Of Genuine And Pseudohalitosis

To evaluate differences in quality of life among patients with genuine halitosis, pseudohalitosis, and healthy individuals. A case-control study included 178 adults (age 18–60 years; 66 genuine halitosis, 58 pseudohalitosis, 54 controls; gender-balanced). Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS 24.0. Ethics approval (No. SH9H-2020-T14-1) was obtained, and the study was conducted from July 2022 to January 2025. Both halitosis groups scored significantly lower than controls (P<0.05): genuine halitosis showed deficits in General Health (P=0.002), Social Functioning (P<0.001), Vitality (P<0.001), and Mental Health (P<0.001); pseudohalitosis exhibited lower scores in Social Functioning (P=0.003), Vitality (P=0.001), and Mental Health (P<0.001). Halitosis significantly impairs psychosocial well-being, necessitating comprehensive interventions addressing both clinical and psychological dimensions.