Natia Khutsishvili
Tbilisi state medical university1, Curatio Clinic2
Title: Psychosomatic aspects of pruritic dermatoses (psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis). Case studies.
Biography
Biography: Natia Khutsishvili
Abstract
Background: Chronic itchy skin diseases are common in a dermatologist’s every day practice. Varied lesions with different distribution, annoying pruritus appended with stress are of main complaints faced by a clinician. Meanwhile, stress may be an added concern to the skin symptoms, but inversely it can be an exacerbating factor of cutaneus disorders. Because skin problems are hard to hide and itch just aggravates the situation, such chronic conditions lead patients to psychological distress.
Objective and aim: To outline the importance of collaboration of a dermatologist, a psychologist and a neurologist while dealing with pruritic skin disease, particularly the chronic one.
Methods: A review of the data from several studies addressing psychological distress in the patients with psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis with one case study for each condition.
Results/Conclusions: Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and other mental disturbances are frequent accompanying factors of chronic itchy dermatological conditions. When presented to such disorders the dermatologist ought always to evaluate the level of psychological distress in patients and take into account the possible good outcome of the involvement of the psychology specialists.