Psychophysiological Reactivity under Mental Stress in Atopic Dermatitis

Vol. 210, No. 4, 2005

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 168 KB)

Clinical and Laboratory Investigations

Psychophysiological Reactivity under Mental Stress in Atopic Dermatitis
Kristina Seiffert^{a, b}, Edwin Hilbert^b, Hartmut Schaechinger^c, Christos C. Zouboulis^b, Hans-Christian Deter^a

Departments of
^aPsychosomatics and Psychotherapy and
^bDermatology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany;
^cMedical Clinic, Kantonsspital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Address of Corresponding Author

Dermatology 2005;210:286-293 (DOI: 10.1159/000084752)

Key Words

Atopic dermatitis
Parasympathetic activity
Psychophysiology
Stress
Sympathetic activity

Abstract

Background: An association of mental stress with atopic dermatitis is widely accepted. However, no long-term evaluation of psychophysiological reactivity over the course of disease has yet been performed. Objective: We examined whether atopic dermatitis patients have an increased psychophysiological reactivity compared to healthy controls and in between acute and disease-free phases, and whether they differ in psychological state and trait variables. Methods: Fifteen patients with atopic dermatitis underwent a stress test during acute exacerbation and after symptom improvement and were compared to matched controls. Results: Psychophysiological responsesto stress were not stronger in the patient group than in the controls. Nevertheless, the patients had a higher heart rate and lower vagal activity throughout the resting and stress phases at both examination times. The patients showed significantly higher anxiety, depression and emotional excitability, and self-ratings of inactivity clearly distinguished acute phases from remission. Conclusion: There is an increased vegetative excitability level in patients with atopic dermatitis, which cannot be attributed solely to increased disease activity.

Author Contacts

Dr. Kristina Seiffert
Department of Dermatology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
525 East 68th Street, LC 703
New York, NY 10021 (USA)
Tel. +1 212 746 6553, Fax +1 212 746 8604, E-Mail krs2002@med.cornell.edu

Article Information

Received: April 8, 2004
Accepted: October 4, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 40

Medline Abstract (ID 15942214)

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