Neuropsychic factors in physical urticaria

Area of Science:

• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Dermatology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Urticaria encompasses various conditions, including dermographism, cold urticaria, and cholinergic urticaria.
• Understanding the psychosomatic components of these conditions is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychosomatic factors influencing dermographism, cold urticaria, and cholinergic urticaria.
• To explore the correlation between psychological stress, emotional states, and urticaria symptom manifestation.

Main Methods:

• Psychosomatic investigations were conducted on patients with diagnosed urticaria.
• The Maudsley Personality Inventory was administered to assess personality traits.
• Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded to evaluate brain activity.

Main Results:

• In dermographism, symptom onset and intensification were frequently linked to frustrating situations and psychic stress.
• Abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs) were observed in 81.8% of dermographism patients.
• Psychic factors were not demonstrably linked to cold urticaria.
• In cholinergic urticaria, brief emotional states provoked symptoms in 75% of patients, though other psychic links were not evident.

Conclusions:

• Psychosomatic factors play a significant role in dermographism and cholinergic urticaria.
• Stress and emotional triggers are key in precipitating symptoms for these urticaria types.
• Further research into the neurophysiological underpinnings of urticaria is warranted.