Differences Between Men and Women in Chronic Scratching: A Psychodermatologic Study in Lichen Simplex Chronicus.
BACKGROUND
Chronic scratching is common to many skin disorders. Being a female and presenting a high level of psychopathology are risk factors for chronic scratching. Yet, it is unclear why. Certain personality characteristics that are more prevalent in women are also known to influence emotional states (i.e. emotional tension).


OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to explore whether these personality styles might help understand why gender and emotional distress are associated with scratching.


METHODS
We compared the personality patterns of 103 patients (69.9% women) diagnosed with Lichen Simplex Chronicus, against a sample of healthy individuals.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found in the personality styles of men and women with LSC. Women were more pessimistic, oriented to fulfil the needs of others, traditional, insecure, submissive, and reserved, with moderate (d=.43) to strong (d=.96) size effects ranges. Some of these differences, such as in traditionalism, dutifulness, other-orientation, and pessimism, were also observed when compared with healthy men and women, with small (d=.03) to moderate (d=.47) size effects ranges.


CONCLUSIONS
These psychological factors may help explain the mechanisms underlying gender differences in chronic scratching, at least in Lichen Simplex Chronicus. The findings might open new avenues for research and treatment.
Faculty of Psychology, University of Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: ramonmail@gmail.com.
R
R
Martín-Brufau
Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
C
C
Suso-Ribera
Service of Dermatology, Hospital Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain.
C
C
Brufau Redondo
Faculty of Psychology, University of Murcia, Spain.
J
J
Corbalán Berná
D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D017276:Friction; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D009450:Neurodermatitis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
Dermatología psiquiátrica; Neurodermitis; Prurito; Pruritus; Psicodermatología; Psychiatric Dermatology; Psycho-dermatology