title: Nail biting in rheumatic diseases.
abstract: To ascertain if nail biting (usually considered a manifestation of emotional tension) was associated with fibromyalgia, 387 patients attending the Rheumatism Clinic at the Leeds General Infirmary were studied prospectively. Bitten nails appeared to be a feature of youth rather than of fibromyalgia. Patients with a full set of dentures were less likely to bite their nails than others, but it can and was done by 7%. Posing the question about nail biting worried several patients, indicating the wisdom of seeking ethical approval even for "noninvasive" studies.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University of Leeds, U.K.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atrash
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hopkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003778:Dentures; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009259:Nail Biting / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D017678:Sex Distribution