This is a serious question, and is NOT meant to stereotype or insult ANYONE. Is there EVER a particularly?

strong, unpleasant body odor emitted by someone with a serious inherited biological or genetic mental illness? I'm curious and wonder if anyone else ever noticed this? Granted, this could well be due to simply not bathing. But the odor is one I have noticed only twice, and both times it was around the mentally ill. At neither time was abusing drugs, alcohol, or smoking involved. Thank you.

Thanks Dustin. A nurse said that oncologists can smell cancer in very early stages. Joseph: I've worked in a Detox and a homeless shelter. Odors don't "overly" concern me.

Um, actually, yes to all of those that said no. People with a certain type of bipolar disorder secreate a chemical that most highly experienced psychiatrists can pick up. I know it sounds weird, but I was talking with a psychiatric nurse practicioner today about bipolar disease. She's on the staff here at Cornell's health clinic

dunt think so but it is possible in the mentally ill there is a deeper cause to the mental illness such as another disease which maybe messed up the sweat glands and stuff. Again, mentally ill dont have a signal often telling them to shower and maybe they have "accidents" in their bowels and possibly have this smell.

Body odour has nothing to do with a mental illness. If someone had inherited strong body odour it had to do with their glands not their illness. If not inherited then maybe they just didn't bathe. In some cases when people are ill being clean and powder fresh isn't their #1 priority.

The mentally ill seem to not take care of themselves very well. If you noticed that their clothes are mostly dirty and not matched and not fitted well. so I would say its definitely hygiene.

I work with people who suffer mental illness, there is no distinct odour from any of them, however as has been mentioned already, some who have severe and enduring mental health problems, don't feel the need to bath as often as some.

People with mental health "issues" are, by & by, somewhat less preoccupied with personal hygiene (unless that is the NATURE of their illness...) than with their struggle with "everyday life"...

Americans without mental health issues tend to be overly concerned with personal hygiene!

Hello, Yes it could be the losing control of functions of the mentally challenged person...Was it Body odor or a smell of bathroom surrounding them...Sometimes BAD body odor can come from exposure to chemicals or hormone problem...GOD BLESS!! Mary

If a person is incapable of taking care of themselves (applying deodorant, bathing, washing their clothes, etc.) then sure, they're going to stink! Also, sometimes people are too depressed to care about bathing and grooming regularly. Otherwise, the answer would be no, there is no smell directly related solely to the illness itself.

maybe they cant take care of them selves. Maybe they dont change their clothes or they use dippers and they dont bathe or use deoderant or they have rolls with dirt under them! lol

stop warring