Psychiatric medications for the treatment of pruritus.
OBJECTIVE
To review the use of psychiatric medications in the treatment of pruritus.


METHODS
A literature review was conducted using the key words pruritus, psychiatric, and treatment.


RESULTS
Three categories of pruritus are described: dermatologic, systemic, and psychogenic. Peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms of pruritus are reviewed. Conventional dermatologic treatments for pruritus are contrasted with some of the common psychopharmacologic treatment modalities that include anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antipsychotic agents. A treatment algorithm is offered to help guide the treatment of patients with pruritus.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric medications have been used successfully in the treatment of pruritus that is associated with both psychocutaneous and systemic disorders, which are resistant to conventional treatment.
Shaw
Richard J
RJ
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA 94305-5719, USA.
Dayal
Shaili
S
Good
Julie
J
Bruckner
Anna L
AL
Joshi
Shashank V
SV
D000465:Algorithms; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents