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Colegio de Medicina Interna de México.

2007, Number 6

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Med Int Mex 2007; 23 (6)

Psychogenic pruritus; internist´s unavoidable diagnostic

Poletti VED, Muñóz SMR

Language: Spanish
References: 38
Page: 517-523
PDF size: 139.56 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Psychological factors implied in stress incidents are associated with a complex mechanism: psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune-skin system. Nervous system is associated with most dermatologic sufferings, particularly those inflammatory and immunological. Itching is a specific skin and certain mucosal and submucosa sensation. In 1967, Herman Musaph uses ‘psychogenic pruritus’ term to designate certain emotional disorders, inappropriate handling of aggressive tendencies, anxiety, excessive cleaning, and fear of sickness. It is still hard to specify real incidence and prevalence of pruritus cases due to patients ask for physician attention until suffering becomes a persistent and incapacitating trouble. Specific pathways to pain and pruritus are known as fiber C “pruritus units” of slow conduction, that perhaps are associated with encephalic registry of H4 receptors. Psychogenic pruritus is induced by neuropeptides and non-exclusively by mastocytes activation. Psychological factors of pruritus are simultaneous to depression and anxiety, quality of life decrease and mentally induced pruritus.


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