Self-inflicted skin diseases. A retrospective analysis of 57 patients with dermatitis artefacta seen in a dermatology department

Abstract

We analysed clinical symptoms, gender, age and social relations among 57 patients for whom a final diagnosis of dermatitis artefacta was established. The study is retrospective and the patients were seen in our department from 1982 to 2002. We observed that the diagnosis was 2.8 times more common in females than males. Symptoms were most common in the age group 18-60 years, median age 39 years. The skin lesions were 'multiple' among 88% of the patients. When self-infliction was suggested as the cause, two-thirds of patients initially denied it and only one patient agreed to meet with a psychiatrist. Only one-quarter had a job, the rest were unemployed or on sick leave. Many patients (61%) received medical treatment with anxiolytica. Ten patients (18%) had a psychiatric diagnosis. Among our 57 patients, 11 were deceased at the time of our study, but none because of suicide. Four had died before the age of 70, of whom two suffered from alcoholism and two had diabetes mellitus. Therapy should include an optimal nursing relationship with the patient so that social problems can be discussed. Psychological or psychiatric intervention appeared unhelpful because of patient denial.