[Painful bruising syndrome: a psychogenic disease].
BACKGROUND
Painful bruising syndrome was described by Gardner and Diamond in 1955. It is marked by spontaneous bruising, without any biological abnormality, affecting young women with pathological mental context.


METHODS
We report three observations with painful bruising syndrome. In a patient, psychotherapy induced improvement in dermatological and articular manifestations. In other case, placebotherapy made clinical symptoms go away for a prolonged period.


CONCLUSIONS
Some etiological hypotheses have been postulated for Gardner and Diamond syndrome. However, published cases speak in favour of psychogenic hypothesis. Somatic and psychological approach must be offered to these patients.
Boussault
P
P
Service de dermatologie, hôpital Haut-Lévêque, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac cedex, France.
Doutre
M S
MS
Beylot-Barry
M
M
Constans
J
J
Conri
C
C
Beylot
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003288:Contusions / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain; D010919:Placebos; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013577:Syndrome
D010919:Placebos