Abstract
The location of skin lesions may be a significant psychological factor in dermatological disease. The study assesses the correlation between the location of skin lesions and the intensity of psychopathological symptoms. The analysis considers various effects including the tendency for deliberate concealment of lesions and subjective feelings of being stigmatized. The study included 150 patients (M = 46.14; SD = 17.28) treated for various skin complaints. Patients were divided into 3 equal groups according to the location of skin lesions: all over body, on covered or exposed body parts. The intensity of psychopathological symptoms was measured with the SCL-90. Demographic data and disease-related characteristics were collected by means of a questionnaire developed for the present study. The relationship between the location of skin lesions and the severity of some psychopathological symptoms was observed, especially among patients treated only for skin diseases. Patients' mental condition can be indirectly influenced by their inclination to deliberately hide lesions, as well as by their subjective experience of hostility from their environment. The most severe psychopathological symptoms were observed in the patients with skin lesions all over their bodies. The patients with lesions on visible body parts are characterized by a higher intensity of "interpersonal sensitivity" when compared to those with lesions on the covered body parts. The opposite trend was observed for the remaining SCL-90 variables. The obtained results can prompt further direction of research which takes into consideration the share of psychosocial factors in the functioning of dermatological patients.
Highlights
Numerous dermatological conditions, their course, symptomatology and methods of treatment, are viewed as considerably lowering the quality of life for patients [1,2,3,4]
The three groups of patients with different localizations of skin lesions were compared with regard to the intensity of psychopathological symptoms
The analyses took into consideration the fact that the examined group included patients who had been treated only for skin diseases (N = 83) and patients diagnosed with other somatic ailments (N = 67)
Summary
Their course, symptomatology and methods of treatment, are viewed as considerably lowering the quality of life for patients [1,2,3,4]. The prevalence of psychopathological symptoms in patients with skin diseases is estimated between 30% and 60% [9, 10] Another factor which can be related to the psychosocial functioning of dermatological patients is the experience of stigmatization. Experienced aversion from the environment by dermatological patients is frequently associated with the willingness to camouflage skin lesions. It can provoke negative emotional reactions (e.g., anxiety, depression, anger) and behavioral responses (e.g., avoidance, concealment) in patients, which, in turn, lead to rejection, exclusion or other forms of discrimination [13, 14]. Thompson and Kent [15] indicate that the distress associated with body disfigurement may not be due to the disease itself but rather to the tension associated with attempts to hide lesions or to avoid social situations
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