Stress and Atopic Dermatitis

vated the development in 45.42% of cases. The psycho- logical examination showed emotional instability in 37 cases (74%), anxious depression in 33 cases (66%), im- possibility to pass over frustrating situations in 23 cases (46%), difficulties in adjustment in 17 cases (34%), psy- chasthenical personality (existential insecurity) in 26 cases (52%), and disharmonic personality in 19 cases (38%). In addition, for 34% of patients the long duration of the disease induced perturbations of personality. The IQ evaluation showed a normal intelligence for 30% of patients, above-average in 52, below-average intelli- gence in 14, and mental defectiveness in 4%. The classi- cal atopic personality was identified in 40% of the pa- tients psychologically examined. Conclusions: This study shows the importance of stress as a factor for aggravation and development of atopic dermatitis. This fact is important in the management of Summary Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impli- cation of stress in the development of atopic dermatitis. Patients and Methods: The study was performed on 240 patients with atopic dermatitis who attended the Allergy Unit of the Dermato-venereological Center Bucharest. The relationship between stress and the evolution of the disease was evaluated. 50 of the patients were also eval- uated by a psychologist trying to find a 'personality type' for atopy. Results: Age of patients ranged from less than 2 to 67 years (mean age 17.2). 59.58% were female. 62.9% of the patients had mild, 26.7 moderate and 10.4 severe atopic dermatitis. Stress was the main factor that triggered the disease in 5.83% of cases (7.92% for women) and aggra-