Psychoosmology at the threshold of the millennium: From "nasal reflex neurosis" to update psychosomatics of the "sudden loss of smell" - On the 60th birthday of Prof. Dr. Michael v. Rad

This article offers a psychosomatic description of the medical disorder known as sudden anosmia, an illness which previously has been unjustly neglected. The authors present an operational definition of sudden anosmia and describe the illness's multi-facetted symptomatology. Sudden anosmia is influenced by a number of etiological factors. In this regard, it can be seen that not only classical medical factors such as neurophysiology and anatomy prove to be relevant, but also various characteristics of the fields of personality psychology, Family psychology, and behavioral psychology as well. The modern diagnostics of sudden anosmia are conceived interdisciplinarily and span from olfactory measurements to rhino-psychological testing. The treatment of patients suffering from sudden anosmia is based on a multi-staged treatment concept. This concept equally considers both medical and psychological approaches, whereby behavior psychological treatment will be given particular importance in discussion of the latter. Processes for evaluation and quality assurance to monitor the methods of diagnostics and therapy provided far persons afflicted by sudden anosmia are still in their beginning stages.