Dermatitis artefacta in a child.
The high visibility of dermatologic diseases and their easy accessibility make the skin a primary and direct target for dysfunctional behaviors. Self-harm tendencies can frequently be expressed through dermatologic lesions, and dermatitis artefacta falls within this clinical frame. The occurrence of this cutaneous manifestation in children is very rare, with a peak of greater frequency in adolescence. We describe the characteristics of a multidisciplinary intervention-dermatologic and psychologic. Our pediatric patient displays a dermatologic picture that has no etiologic confirmation. The source of this disorder must therefore be found in socio-relational difficulties within the family and school environments, which lead the patient to self-harm behaviors that have a high communication value.
Finore
Enzo D
ED
Clinical Psychology and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy Service, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Andreoli
Elisabetta
E
Alfani
Stefania
S
Palermi
Giuliana
G
Pedicelli
Cristina
C
Paradisi
Mauro
M
D002648:Child; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012574:Schools; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy