Abstract
This study investigated whether dermatology inpatients with chronic pruritus benefit from an 1-hour psychoeducational group therapy, adapted from educational programmes for patients with atopic dermatitis. Such a symptom-specific intervention for patients with chronic pruritus has not been evaluated before. 91 of the 315 group participants (28.9 %) and 175 of the 318 patients who had been admitted to the hospital without group therapy (55.0 %) were examined at admission and discharge using standardised questionnaires (Adjustment to Chronic Skin Diseases Questionnaire, Itch-Cognition Questionnaire) and a Visual Analogue Scale for itch intensity (randomized pre-post study). Evaluation of the standardised questionnaires and of the change in pruritus intensity indicated no additive benefit of group intervention, both for the whole sample and for subgroups with chronic pruritus. The results indicate either that group intervention in this form is not effective or that the dermatological medical treatment of the patients is so efficient that the intervention brings no added benefit. Perhaps an intervention of 1 hour is simply too short. Further conceptual developments of the psychoeducational programme are necessary.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
