Psychodermatologic disorders: and review of literature

Abstract

A Ad dd dr re es ss s f fo or r c co or rr re es sp po on nd de en nc ce e: : Beata Bergler-Czop MD, PhD, 2 A Leśna St, 42-624 Ossy, Poland, phone/fax: +48 32 284 08 77, e-mail: bettina2@tlen.pl Case report A b s t r a c t Psychodermatologic disorders are a non-homogenous group, in which both psychological and dermatological components are present. Active co-operation between the dermatologist and the psychiatrist is necessary in all abovementioned disorders since patients first appear in dermatologic clinics. Dermatological treatment is exclusively symptomatic, since most of all, these patients require special psychiatric treatment, both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic. Here we present three cases of parasitophobia combined with factitial dermatosis and one case of self-injury in patients, in whom diagnosis of psychodermatosis was preceded by long-term and detailed diagnostic procedures for classical dermatological disorders. One should always remember about dermatitis artefacta in patients, in whom there is no positive response to treatment, and the clinical picture as well as results of additional tests comprise no logical whole picture.K Ke ey y w wo or rd ds s: : psychodermatology, parasitophobia, factitial dermatosis.

Hand-biting Lesions in a Child — a Challenging Diagnosis

“…1 Dermatitis artefacta covers a large spectrum of self-inflicted but involuntarily induced skin lesions, unlike neurotic excoriations, Munchausen syndrome, and true malingering. 2 Self-mutilation could be considered as a "cry for attention" or a behavior that reduces anxiety, coexisting with psychiatric disorders; 66.12% of persons with severe selfinduced skin lesions were diagnosed with schizophrenia. 3 Usually, such patients, regardless of their age, are seen first by dermatologists, without psychiatric examination, inducing an important delay in a correct diagnosis and treatment.…”

Dermatitis artefacta as a symptom of schizophrenia?

“…Unlike other disorders of self-mutilation nature (e.g. neurotic excoriations, Munchausen syndrome, true malingering), creation of new lesions in dermatitis artefacta is usually involuntary [ 5 , 6 ]. Skin lesions are most often located on the areas within easy reach of the patient's dominant hand, usually sparing the middle part of the back.…”