Psychodermatology: A Clinical Report

Abstract

Early psychoanalytic theories on the cause of certain skin disorders have now given way to general stress theory. Currently, there is interest in the notion that stress causes changes in the functioning of the immune system and that this is linked to inflammatory conditions of the skin. Therefore, psychological therapy may have relevance to the treatment of some cases of eczema, psoriasis etc. Recent research does confirm the high level of stress signs amongst such populations. Accordingly, a trial clinical project has been created to explore the application of brief psychological intervention in this field. A group of people judged by their dermatologist to suffer from skin disorders exacerbated by psychological factors were referred for therapy during a two year period. Interventions took the form of exploratory individual psychological therapy and also training in stress management and self care skills. The educational work was delivered in both a group and individual mode. Two patterns of psychological difficulty occurred with some frequency. One involved a personal style which appeared to be a covert Type A pattern. The other involved unexpressed and troublesome emotion linked to a key figure in the client's present life. In general, the impact of therapy was positive, with some 59% reporting improvements in their skin condition and a further 17% reporting solely psychological gains. These high figures must be linked to the fact that this was a highly selected group.