The psychiatric significance of dermatitis artefacta

✍ Scribed by T. Haenel; U. Rauchfleisch; R. Schuppli; R. Battegay

• Book ID: 104772038
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 382 KB
• Volume: 234
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1433-8491
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00432881

✦ Synopsis

A total of 71 patients (12 males and 59 females) who attended the University Skin Clinic of Basle in the years 1956-1982, have been investigated by a dermatologist, a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Among 55 female patients (group I and II) 14 had a suicide attempt in their history. Of the 39 female patients of group I 25 (64%) had suffered from a stressful childhood event. Of group I (39 female patients) 19 (48.7%) had had psychiatric therapy in the past or at the time of investigation; 23 patients (59%) had suffered from depressions either in the past or at the time of investigation. Among group II (16 patients) 11 (68.7%) had had psychiatric therapy in the past or at the time of investigation. The psychological test investigation (Colour Pyramid Test and Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test) revealed artefact patients to be in a state of considerable depressive-aggressive tension without being able to handle their emotions and impulses in an adequate manner.