[Disorders of sweating in psychiatry].
During the past few years psychiatric research has focused its interest on the disorders of sweating: hyperidrosis and hypoidrosis/anhidrosis. Hyperhydrosis is the most commonly encountered  in  practice.  In  this  situation,  the  total  amount  of  sweat  produced  is  greater  than  needed  for  thermoregulation. The disorders of sweating receive the research attention of many medical specialties.  This trend is attributed to their high prevalence, their relation with many psychiatric disorders, their  effects on the quality of life of patients, but also of the new therapeutic approaches that have been  developed (the use of botulinum toxin, surgical methods, etc). Balancing among different suggestions for the treatment of hyperhidrosis, the psychiatrist must be thoughtful for the therapeutic approach. The cases of hypohidrosis and anhidrosis are less frequently mentioned, for which patients  hardly ever complain. They are characterized by reduced sweating below the amount needed to  cool down an elevated body temperature, or even absent sweating. They may constitute an urgent  medical situation leading to hyperthermia and death. Overall, disorders in sweating may be caused  by pharmaceutical or hormonal causes. Many pharmaceutical and psychotherapeutic methods  have been used  for  treatment.  Therefore, we believe  it  is useful  for  the  clinical psychiatrist  to  keep  in mind the psychiatric and psychological aspects of the disorders of sweating, and their impact on  patient diagnosis, course and treatment.
Women's Mental Health Clinic, 1st Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Athens.
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Mourikis
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Zervas