Psychological profile and alpha-amylase levels in oral lichen planus patients: A case-control preliminary study

Objective To investigate psychological (anxiety, depression, and stress) and salivary (flow and concentration of alpha-amylase) profile associated with oral lichen planus. Materials and methods A case-control preliminary study with oral lichen planus patients and age-gender matched controls was conducted. The participants underwent psychological tests (Beck depression and anxiety inventories and perceived stress scale) and saliva collection to determine the unstimulated salivary flow and alpha-amylase levels at three moments along the day. The data were analyzed statistically using Mann-Whitney, McNemar chi-square and Friedman tests, and the Spearman correlation coefficient. The significance level adopted was 5%. Results A total of 46 case-control pairs were recruited. There was a significant correlation between anxiety, depression, stress, and oral lichen planus, as well as the stress and decline of salivary alpha-amylase levels. Higher concentrations of this biomarker were found in the case group thirty minutes post-awakening. Conclusion The applied psychological tests indicated that factors such as anxiety, depression, and stress were associated with oral lichen planus. Salivary analyses demonstrated a higher concentration of alpha-amylase thirty minutes post-awakening on individuals with the disease and its decline correlated with stress, suggesting the role of alpha-amylase as a promising biomarker for future studies.