Psychological Assessment of Patients with Idiopathic Pruritus ani

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare psychological profiles in 17 patients suffering from idiopathic pruritus ani with a control group of 28 patients showing secondary pruritus ani. Methods: The two groups completed the Mini-Mult personality test and results were compared using χ² test and analysis of variance. Results: The mean hypomania and depression scale scores were greater and smaller respectively in the idiopathic pruritus ani group. Nevertheless, the percentage of abnormal psychological profiles was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: It seems arbitrary to systematically ascribe psychogenic aetiologies to idiopathic pruritus ani even though psychological factors may be present in individual patients.

Idiopathic perianal pruritus: washing compared with topical corticosteroids

“…Laurent et al showed that the mean hypomania and depression scale scores were greater and smaller respectively in the idiopathic perianal pruritus patients. 10 In two of our patients, depression was diagnosed after psychiatric consultation.…”

Long-term results of single intradermal 1 % methylene blue injection for intractable idiopathic pruritus ani: a prospective study

“…Psychological profiles of patients with pruritus ani are not different from those of the general population [9].…”

Paroxetine in a Case of Psychogenic Pruritus and Neurotic Excoriations

“…Literature reports the use of clomipramine, fluoxetine and fluvoxamine in this compulsive behavior. Often, psychogenic pruritus has been associated with an inability to manage aggressive tendencies, characterological armoring with congestion of aggressive impulses [12], though this is not completely agreed upon [23]. Even if it seems arbitrary to assess a personality pattern in patients with psychogenic pruritus, we believe that the choice of psychopharmacological agents must be conditioned by personality traits according to a dimensional approach.…”