Relationship of stress to the development of symptoms in alopecia areata and chronic urticaria

Abstract

In an attempt to assess the role of psychological factors in the causation of the two conditions, a study was made, over a period of 19 months, of 52 patients suffering from alopecia areata and 27 patients with chronic urticaria. All patients were treated with psychotherapy for at least three months; most were treated for more than 12 months. Extensive and detailed case histories were made and patients were given long interviews for treatment. In both groups all patients were found to have either very stressful life conditions or moderately severe neurotic symptoms, or both, before the onset of the alopecia and urticaria. Examples of case histories are given. Progress and response to psychotherapy are described. It was concluded that in certain cases stress plays a part in the causation of both alopecia areata and chronic urticaria. © 1960, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.