Browse extracts from the book
Disorders of the Skin
"...Major psychological stress precipitates psoriasis in over 40% of first
attacks, and worry or stress can exacerbate pre-existing lesions in 70% of
patients. The treatment of this stress by psychotherapy will be detailed in
this chapter..."
Browse through selected extracts from this chapter by choosing from
the chapter headings at left. Please follow this link for a full contents
list.
Psoriasis
"...It must first be
ascertained when the skin was first affected and the times of any exacerbations. As
the incubation time from stress to the onset of psoriasis is within 1 month, attention
should be paid to this period, particularly with regard to interpersonal relationships
and conflict. Knowledge of the patients and their background, as occurs in general
practice, makes this much easier as the conversation can be guided into those areas
patients may not wish to remember. This may be indicated by blankness, hesitancy,
hostility, altered voice tone or attacks of scratching..."
Atopic Dermatitis
"...Atopic dermatitis is a chronic or recurrent skin disease which can be classified
according to morphological aspects and course. Inflammatory reactions and strong
itching represent the main symptoms. It has an hereditary component: patients and
other members of the family often suffer from other atopic diseases, especially allergic
rhinitis and bronchial asthma.
Very early in the history of dermatology, psychosomatic components were considered
to be important in this disease. Brocq and Jaquet introduced the term
"neurodermatitis" and underlined the close relationship of this disorder with the
activity of the central nervous system..."
Chronic Urticaria
"...Saul and Bernstein presented a detailed case study of a woman with chronic
urticaria. Psychoanalytic treatment revealed that the urticaria attacks were associated
with the frustration of intensified longings for love. The symptom seemed to
take the place of repressed weeping which would have provided relief from anger.
Other psychoanalytic authors found either a passive-dependent and immature personality
or anxiety and guilt connected with hostile aggressive impulses as
central psychodynamic factors in several cases of chronic urticaria..."