Psychology and the Skin

Question 1

what can affect whether a patient is high or low risk of secondary emotional disorder?

Answer 1

site of disease (aesthetic places - face etc)
extent of disease
coping ability/resilience factors - I.e if people are otherwise happy
psychiatric history

Question 2

how is distress triaged?

Answer 2

high
medium
low

Question 3

what is psychosomatic medicine?

Answer 3

assessing the psychological factors which may be affecting course/outcome of a disease
includes holistic care and integration of psychological therpaies

Question 4

what are the 3 groups of psychosomatic skin disease?

Answer 4

primary skin disease - caused or exacerbated by emotional factors
secondary psychiatric illness -arising from/exacerbated by primary skin disease
primary psychiatric disorder - which manifests via skin lesions

Question 5

what would indicate that a psychosomatic approach would be needed?

Answer 5

emotional distress
if treatment not working
if symptoms don’t fit the signs
when clinical and pathological features don’t match
if theres a psychiatric disorder but they don’t want to see psychiatrist

Question 6

what can contribute to psychosomatic disease?

Answer 6

psyche
body (genetic predisposition etc)
interpersonal relationships

Question 7

what is Morgellons?

Answer 7

can be triggered by depression, drug use etc