Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41622730›Full record

ArticleOral diseases2026

Psychological Factors, Serum Trace Elements, and Clinical Features of Factitious Oral Ulcers in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Ling Lin, Ting Lin, Chenghui Lu, Lan Shuai, Jie Wei, Mengyu Jiang, Yanni Wang, Chenglong Yang, Xinxiang Jiang, Guoyao Tang

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In one paragraph

Article in Oral diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ling LinDepartment of Stomatology, Core Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2461-2150
Ting LinDepartment of Oral Medicine, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China.
Chenghui LuDepartment of Stomatology, Core Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Lan ShuaiDepartment of Medical Psychology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jie WeiDepartment of Stomatology, Core Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Mengyu JiangDepartment of Stomatology, Core Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yanni WangDepartment of Stomatology, Core Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Chenglong YangDepartment of Stomatology, Core Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Xinxiang JiangDepartment of Oral Medicine, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China.
Guoyao TangDepartment of Stomatology, Core Unit of National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1150-5613

Funding

Construction Project of the "Discipline Peak-Climbing Plan" of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine XKPF2024B5002The 2021 Hospital-level Clinical Support Cultivation Project of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine 21XHDB07
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study examined associations between psychological factors, serum zinc/iron levels, and clinical features of factitious oral ulcers in children (3-16 years).

methodsA cross-sectional analysis of 69 patients (78.3% male) from two Chinese hospitals assessed ulcer characteristics, pain (VAS), micronutrient levels, and psychological scores (SCARED, DSRSC, CPRS, SDQ). Statistical analysis used nonparametric tests and correlation analysis (SPSS 26.0).

resultsZinc deficiency (37.7%) correlated with longer disease duration (12.0 vs. 6.0 months, p = 0.035) and shorter ulcer-free intervals (60.0 vs. 95.2 days, p = 0.040). Zinc levels inversely linked to emotional symptoms (r = -0.416, p = 0.022) but positively to prosocial behavior (r = 0.526, p = 0.003). Pain intensity associated with anxiety (VAS: 4.0 vs. 3.0, p = 0.025) and psychosocial distress (r = 0.461, p = 0.010). Older children (8-16 years) had longer disease duration (12.0 vs. 3.6 months, p < 0.001) and higher zinc deficiency (47.5% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.048). Iron showed paradoxical associations with emotional symptoms (r = 0.452, p = 0.012) and prosocial behavior (r = -0.382, p = 0.037).

conclusionZinc deficiency and psychological factors critically influence the chronicity of FOU. Multidisciplinary care combining micronutrient supplementation and behavioral interventions is recommended.

Indexed as

Factitious DisordersOral UlcerTrace ElementsZincAdolescentAnxietyChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIronMaleIronTrace ElementsZincchildren and adolescentscross‐sectional studyemotional and behavioral disordersfactitious oral ulceriron levelspsychological factorsserum trace elementszinc deficiency

Identifiers

PMID41622730
PMCPMC13457577

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.