History of burning mouth syndrome (1800–1950): A review

Abstract

This medical history historic literature review aims at understanding the evolution of the medical existence of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) over times. Three historic research tools were used (Medic@, IndexCat, Gallica) with several keywords, exploring the years 1800-1950. One hundred and fifty documents were obtained dating from 1803 to 1937, including 55 reviews, 44 original articles, 40 quotations, and 11 medical dictionaries. A total of 199 cases of BMS were reported which allowed for a narrative review of the early history of BMS (1800-1950). This review spans from the description of the first clinical cases by several authors in Europe to the creation of the syndrome by the French Academy of Medicine, its intellectual sponsorship by the emerging discipline of neuropsychiatry, to its subsequent evolution until the conceptual shift of the American authors. A better knowledge of the evolution of the nosology of BMS throughout history should bring a better understanding of current approaches for treating such an affection.

Is there an association between drugs and burning mouth syndrome? A case–control study

“…Moreover, according to a commonly suggested hypothesis, BMS is associated with psychiatric distress, major depression, neurotic and obsessive–compulsive personality characteristics, a link that was observed in the first papers on BMS published in the 19th century (Adamo et al, ; Galli, Lodi, Sardella, & Vegni, ; Périer & Boucher, ; Taiminen et al, ).…”

Psycho-stomatodynia

“…These ideas, which will remain as "moral treatment" were intended for neuropathic patients. These European findings were then spread and discussed throughout the medical literature in Europe and the USA where they each evolved differently, giving rise to different scientific and medical approaches [27][28][29][30].…”

“…Due to the different aspects mentioned above and despite recent physiopathological data showing neuropathic changes leading some authors to classify BMS as a fine-fiber neuropathy [17], stomatodynia is sometimes clearly designated as a disorder of psychological origin, mainly in France and Frenchspeaking countries. A recent study discussed the historical aspects of this epistemological error [29] and noted that different developments have taken place across countries and continents.…”

“…The characteristics of stomatodynia have been comprehensively reviewed owing to its clinical, physiopathogenic, and therapeutic aspects [1,19,20,[23][24][25][26] and more recently for its historical aspects [27][28][29][30]. However, in France, we have found that in case of this disease, which is mainly considered as a psychosomatic disorder, there are persistently significant differences in terms of its conception and management.…”

Could methylene blue be used to manage burning mouth syndrome? A pilot case series

“…The characteristics of BMS have been comprehensively reviewed with focus on its historical [5,6], clinical [2,7], and pathophysiologic [8][9][10][11][12] characteristics. Accumulating evidence suggest that BMS is a neuropathic condition experienced by patients presenting morphological and functional alterations in both the peripheral and central nervous system, detectable at the subclinical level.…”