Dorota Long | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Development of a psychological treatment service for pruritic skin conditions.

The role of psychological contributions to common dermatological disease is increasingly recognized. It is often a challenge to find suitable psychological services to complement dermatological treatment. This paper describes the development of a psychological treatment service to reduce scratching behaviour found in common pruritic skin conditions. Our Department of Dermatology together with a consultation-liaison psychiatrist designed a four-session outpatient treatment programme incorporating psychiatric assessment, psychoeducation about the itch-scratch cycle, behavioural analysis, habit reversal techniques and between-session tasks for the patient to complete. This programme is actively modified in consultation with patients and their therapists to suit each patient's individual needs. Formal investigation is required to determine if this psychological treatment adds benefit in overall symptom control beyond dermatological treatment alone.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy↗

PubMed2004

Generalized essential telangiectasia.

A 43-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of telangiectatic lesions on her lower legs. The lesions progressively spread to involve her thighs and left arm. She had no family or personal history of recurrent haemorrhage or telangiectases. Her general health was unaffected. The diagnosis of generalized essential telangiectasia was made on the basis of clinical presentation and investigations. Generalized essential telangiectasia is a rare condition that can only be diagnosed if other primary and secondary telangiectasias are excluded. It is probably under-reported, with patients mistakenly diagnosed with atypical hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Adult↗