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Life events and psychological distress in dermatologic disorders: Psoriasis, chronic urticaria and fungal infections
Author(s) -
Fava Giovanni A.,
Perini Giulia I.,
Santonastaso Paolo,
Fornasa Cleto Veller
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
british journal of medical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 0007-1129
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1980.tb02551.x
Subject(s) - psoriasis , anxiety , depression (economics) , psychological distress , distress , disease , medicine , chronic urticaria , psychiatry , dermatology , psychology , clinical psychology , economics , macroeconomics
A consecutive unselected series of 60 in‐patients suffering from dermatologic disorders (psoriasis, chronic urticaria and fungal infections of the skin) was examined. Twenty patients with each illness were included. Stressful life events immediately before illness onset, levels of psychological distress, and alexithymic traits were investigated. Patients with psoriasis and chronic urticaria were exposed to stressful life situations before disease onset and suffered from psychological distress (anxiety, depression, inadequacy) significantly more than those with fungal infections. Implications for psychosomatic research and treatment are discussed.