Papers of the Week

Structured exposure to odors is an acknowledged therapy in patients with smell loss but has also been shown to be effective in depression. The latter might rely on connections between olfactory and emotional structures, suggesting possible effects of a similar approach in pain patients. Based on neuroanatomy, there are several interfaces between the "pain network" and olfactory system, such as the limbic system, hypothalamus, and mediodorsal thalamus. We aimed to investigate whether structured exposure to odors may impact perceived pain in patients with chronic low back pain.