title: Stressful Events and Serum Concentration of Substance P in Acne Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychological stress is an important factor of acne pathogenesis. Stress related production of hormones, cytokines and neuropeptides may result in the chronic course and exacerbations of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between acne severity, intensity of emotional stress and serum concentration of substance P (scSP), to compare the intensity of adversities, psychological stress and scSP in acne patients with healthy controls and to compare coping techniques for stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of 80 patients. Emotional stress was analyzed with the use of social readjustment rating scale, whereas the methods of coping with stress were assessed with the coping inventory for stressful situation questionnaire. The blood concentration of substance P was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in a group of 40 patients with acne vulgaris and in control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference between the severity of acne and the intensity of stress. Acne patients presented a higher average scSP than the controls. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the severity of acne and scSP; however, the intensity of stress correlated with scSP in the control group. The evaluation of methods of coping with stress showed significantly higher rate for the avoidance-oriented coping among acne patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of stressful events is not a factor that determines the severity of acne. The course of the disease may depend on tolerance to stress and methods of coping with stress.
authors.affiliation: Division of Skin Disease Prophylaxis, Department of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rokowska-Waluch
authors.affiliation: Division of Skin Disease Prophylaxis, Department of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlaczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cybulski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Environmental Study, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Żurawski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mojs
keywords: Acne vulgaris; Neuropeptides; Stress