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Stress Management for Atopic Dermatitis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2012

Suzanne Habib
Affiliation:
James Cook University.
Shirley Morrissey*
Affiliation:
James Cook University. Shirley.Morrissey@jcu.edu.au
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr Shirley Morrissey, School of Psychology and Sociology, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns QLD 4870, Australia.
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Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, debilitating skin disorder that accounts for up to 20% of dermatological diagnoses. A 6-week psychoeducational stress management program was developed, implemented, and evaluated as an adjunctive treatment for AD. The participants (n = 17) were randomly assigned to a treatment or waiting-list control group. Participants in both the intervention and waiting-list control groups were assessed for dermatitis severity by a blind rater both pre and posttreatment and at a follow-up conducted 8 weeks after the conclusion of the program. At posttest the intervention group had significantly reduced pruritus and global severity of atopic dermatitis, and reduced levels of social anxiety and private self-consciousness. At an 8-week follow-up, pruritus was entirely absent and global severity was continuing to decrease, as were levels of social anxiety and private self-consciousness. The psychoeducational stress-management program provided a short effective treatment that resulted in reduction of symptoms and provided long-term management strategies to sufferers of atopic dermatitis.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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