Psychogenic pruritus

Abstract

Among extra-dermatological itchings, psychogenic pruritus is sometimes provided as a diagnosis. Unfortunately, it is too often mislabeled as idiopathic pruritus because the patient is anxious or the doctor has no other diagnosis to propose! Think about the movie of Nani Morretti: Caro diaro.... The existence of psychogenic pruritus is sometimes discussed by some dermatologists but most of them agree to recognize psychogenic pruritus as a specific disease, which is cited in most reviews about pruritus. Nonetheless, only 31 papers with this key word were referenced by PubMed in July 2007!1 Regarding international classifications of psychiatric diseases, psychogenic pruritus is not cited in the (Inter-national Classification of Diseases-version 10) ICD-10 but pruritus is reported in the diagnosis termed other somatoform disorders (F45.8) along with dysmenorrhea, dysphagia, psychogenic stiff neck and bruxism. These disorders are classified among somatoform disorders, which are included in the broader category neurotic disorders, stress-linked disorders and somatoform disorders. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London.