Evaluation of psychosomatic status for patients with atopic dermatitis and cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosomatic patients

Psychological factors play an important role in the course of atopic dermatitis. The psychosomatic scale for atopic dermatitis and state-trait anxiety inventory were examined in 63 adult outpatients with atopic dermatitis in order to estimate the possible need for psychosocial treatment. 27 patients were high scored in the psychosomatic scale for atopic dermatitis. Among 36 patients scored under cutoff value, 11 patients were high scored in the category of "exacerbation triggered by stress". There was weak correlation between psychosomatic scale score and anxiety. Furthermore, stress coping strategies were assessed using the Japanese version of the way of coping questionnaires, Lazarus stress-coping inventory, and utilized in cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosomatic patients.