Citation

Tomás-Aragones L, Consoli SM, Consoli SG, Poot F, Taube KM, Linder MD, Jemec GB, Szepietowski JC, Korte J, Lvov AN, Gieler U. Acta Derm. Venereol. 2016; 97(2): 159-172.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Zaragoza, Calle Pedro Cerbuna 12, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain. luciatomas@cop.es, luciaservando@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Society for the Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica)

DOI

10.2340/00015555-2522

PMID

27563702

Abstract

The classification of self-inflicted skin lesions proposed by the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry group generated questions with regard to specific treatments that could be recommended for such cases. The therapeutic guidelines in the current paper integrate new psychotherapies and psychotropic drugs without forgetting the most important relational characteristics required for dealing with people with these disorders. The management of self-inflicted skin lesions necessitates empathy and a doctor-patient relationship based on trust and confidence. Cognitive behavioural therapy and/or psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy (alone, or combined with the careful use of psychotropic drugs) seem to achieve the best results in the most difficult cases. Relatively new therapeutic techniques, such as habit reversal and mentalization-based psychotherapy, may be beneficial in the treatment of skin picking syndromes.

Language: en