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Psychocutaneous syndromes: a call for revised nomenclature
Author(s) -
Walling H. W.,
Swick B. L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2006.02334.x
Subject(s) - pejorative , offensive , nomenclature , medicine , psychology , dermatology , biology , philosophy , linguistics , zoology , taxonomy (biology) , management , economics
Summary We propose abandoning three outdated, pejorative diagnostic terms: ‘trichotillomania’, ‘delusions of parasitosis’, and ‘neurotic excoriation’. These insensitive terms are offensive to patients and become a barrier to treatment. We suggest the following alternative patient‐centred nomenclature: ‘neuromechanical alopecia’, ‘pseudoparasitic dysaesthesia’, and (simply) ‘excoriation’. We briefly review clinical and historical aspects of these disorders.