Variability of psychological diagnosis in patients with psychogenic excoriation

Abstract

Among psychiatric dermatoses, the psychogenic excoriation is characterized by patient's confession to provoking the lesions, without presenting any dermatological underlying pathology. This topic has been rarely approached in the literature, focusing on the diversity of psychological diagnoses. Epidemiological data indicated that prevalence varies from 2 to 3% in the general population, 2% among dermatological patients and 9% in patients with itching, with significant prevalence in women. The present article report three Brazilian cases and discusses the therapeutic plan based on multidisciplinary teamwork,including indications of psychotherapy and specific drug therapy to each case.

Dermatology; Diagnosis; Psychology; Therapeutics