ABSTRACT
Geographic tongue lesion or benign migratory glossitis is a lesion with prevalence of 1-3% that involves all age and sex groups. Etiology of this lesion is unknown, but some references have pointed out to relationship of stress and this lesion. The aim of this study is to introduce stress as one of the factors in geographic tongue incidence. This research was of a case-control type and our sample in case group included 30 patients affected with geographic tongue lesion which visited Isfahan Dental School department of oral medicine. These patients were randomly selected from men and women. Patients were explained about importance of this disease and diagnosis of it. Standard stress meter questionnaire of Klementz and Roberts was completed by patients and witness group and information was analyzed statistically by T-test. Witness groups were selected from fellows or family members of patients because of similarities in circumstances between two groups. Information gathered from questionnaire showed that average stress number in case group was 386 and in witness group 3032. T-test showed significant difference between stress number of two groups. Average age in case group was 32 years and witness group 42 years, and this difference was significant, But geographic tongue didn't have significant correlation with sex, educational degree, income, number of children, time spent on studying and place of residence. Nowadays, Psychosomatic diseases are very important. Based on the results of this research, it seems that stress is a significant factor in causing geographic tongue. Although, stress is not the only etiologic factor in causing geographic tongue, but its role as psychologic factor cannot be denied