Body concept of patients with chronic pruritus in relation to scratch lesions and psychic symptoms.

BACKGROUND

There are only a few studies about the body concept of patients with chronic pruritus. We examined the body concept of this group of patients taking into account subgroup-specific differences, limitations of quality of life and the comparison to patients with eating disorders and a healthy control group.

METHODS

284 participants with chronic pruritus filled in the Frankfurt Body Concept Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Statistical analysis was performed using t tests, variance analysis and Pearson's correlations.

RESULTS

Patients with chronic pruritus had a more negative body concept than healthy individuals but a less negative concept than patients with eating disorders. Higher levels of depression and anxiety were related to a more negative body image.

CONCLUSION

The body concept of patients with chronic pruritus should be taken into consideration when planning therapy. Whether the body concept changes after successful treatment has to be examined in further studies.