Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionThe LinkPrevalenceWhich Provider to SeeTreatment and CopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
The Link
Prevalence
Which Provider to See
Treatment and Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
Psychogenic itch is also known as psychogenicpruritus, somatoform pruritus, functional itch disorder, nonorganic pruritus, psychosomatic pruritus, or functional pruritus.
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Psychogenic Itch: Defined
The French Psychodermatology Group (FPDG)—an expert group that includes dermatologists, psychologists, and psychiatrists—suggests psychogenic itch be defined as an itch disorder where the itch symptom is physically present, but is triggered and aggravated due to psychological factors. The group also considers it “functional itch disorder.”
Psychogenic itch is not the same as idiopathic itch (an itch with an unknown cause or origin). To make a diagnosis, first physical causes need to be ruled out, then the medical provider will look for clinical characteristics, an association withpsychological disorders, or the presence of stressful life events.
The three broad categories of psychogenic itch are:
Psychogenic vs. Neuropathic Itch
Psychogenic itch is a different condition than neuropathic itch.
Neuropathic itch may be seen after events such as:
Neuropathic itch treatments typically include topical medicines, such as local anesthesia andcapsaicin, to help reduce sensations of pain.
Link Between the Nervous System and Itching
The brain makes itch possible. While the skin may be irritated, it’s the brain that perceives the sensation of itch.
Itch can also start in the brain, such as with central nervous system disorders or psychological disorders.
Cycle of Stress-Induced Itching and Itching-Induced Stress
Itchcan affect mental health due to its impact on quality of life. Studies have found that participants who scored higher ondepressionscales also scored higher for itch intensity compared to participants who scored lower on depression scales.
Stress, depression, and other psychological issues can also cause existing skin problems, such as itching, to worsen.
Life events, both major and minor, have been associated with higher levels of itch in people with skin conditions and in the general population.
In this stress-itch cycle, it can often be difficult to determine which started first, the skin disorder or the psychiatric disorder.
Is It “All in Your Head”?Sometimes when people hear words like “psychosomatic” they think that means the symptoms are “all in a person’s head” and not real. This is not true.Psychosomatic conditions, such as psychogenic itch, can cause real physical symptoms. The fact that the origin of the symptoms is in the brain does not mean the person isn’t really experiencing them.
Is It “All in Your Head”?
Sometimes when people hear words like “psychosomatic” they think that means the symptoms are “all in a person’s head” and not real. This is not true.Psychosomatic conditions, such as psychogenic itch, can cause real physical symptoms. The fact that the origin of the symptoms is in the brain does not mean the person isn’t really experiencing them.
Sometimes when people hear words like “psychosomatic” they think that means the symptoms are “all in a person’s head” and not real. This is not true.
Psychosomatic conditions, such as psychogenic itch, can cause real physical symptoms. The fact that the origin of the symptoms is in the brain does not mean the person isn’t really experiencing them.
Prevalence and Risk Factors
Prevalence of psychogenicitchis difficult to determine because psychogenic itch is under researched, tough to pinpoint, and can be due to dermatologic or psychologic/psychiatric causes. Dermatologists see more cases of it than psychiatrists because people experiencing psychogenic itch are more likely to seek care from a dermatologist than a psychiatrist.
One study found that 6.5% of outpatients from a dermatology department at a university medical center were experiencing psychogenic itch, but that number may be skewed as that department is known to specialize in psychosomatic dermatology.
Psychogenic itch occurs most frequently in women than men, with an average age of onset between 30 and 45 years.
Mental health disorders associated with psychogenic itch include:
Conditions that may occur simultaneously with psychogenic itch include:
Which Healthcare Provider Deals With Stress Itching?
Dermatologists see more people with psychogenic itch than psychiatrists do. If a dermatologist consults with a person with psychogenic itch that is out of their professional scope, they may refer that person to a psychiatrist.
Psychodermatologyis a field that is well-established in Europe, but lesser known in the United States. Psychodermatology allows for the study andtreatment of skin conditionsthat arise from psychological conditions, and addresses mental health problems that can stem from living with a skin condition.
Treatment and Coping Strategies
Treating psychogenic itch often involves both medical and/or behavioral approaches.
Over-the-Counter Medicines and Topicals
If a skin condition is present, localized treatments may help the itch, such as menthol or cool compresses.
Moisturizing the skin may help ease dryness and stop you from scratching. Depending on the reason for the itch, antihistamines,topical steroids, antibiotics, or occlusive dressings may be advised.
Prescriptions
There are no clinical trials for psychogenic itch treatments.
However, there are somepsychopharmacologicmedicines your healthcare provider can prescribe that may be helpful for psychogenic itch. These include:
Psychological Approach
The efficacy of psychological treatments for psychogenic itch has not been well-studied. However, some types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help.
Stress Management
Treatments and programs that target stress reduction, relaxation, and problem-solving may be beneficial to people with psychogenic itch. These might include:
Relaxation techniques to help with stress relief might include:
Summary
Psychogenic itch is not well-studied or well-defined. By broad definition, it is an itch in which psychological factors, rather than physical ones, play a role.
Itch can also form a vicious cycle in which skin conditions can negatively affect mental health and mental health factors worsen skin conditions.
Depending on the cause of the itch and the symptoms, psychogenic itch may be treated with topical treatments, medication, psychological approaches, and/orstress management.
A Word From Verywell
If you have a troublesome itch and aren’t sure what is causing it, talk to your healthcare provider. If they suspect it is due to psychogenic itch, they may refer you to either adermatologistor a mental health professional.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt can be difficult to tell whether the physical itch or the psychological factors came first.A physical examination, laboratory testing for common medical or systemic problems, biopsy (a medical test that examines cells or tissue for disease), and/or a psychiatric screening may be used to help determine if the itch is psychosomatic.Itching due to stress may last for a few days. Stress can also exacerbate existing skin conditions.The skin-crawling feeling comes from the activation of the stress response. Treating anxiety can help long term, but in the moment, countering the stress response with relaxation techniques and exercises may help you find relief.
It can be difficult to tell whether the physical itch or the psychological factors came first.A physical examination, laboratory testing for common medical or systemic problems, biopsy (a medical test that examines cells or tissue for disease), and/or a psychiatric screening may be used to help determine if the itch is psychosomatic.
It can be difficult to tell whether the physical itch or the psychological factors came first.
A physical examination, laboratory testing for common medical or systemic problems, biopsy (a medical test that examines cells or tissue for disease), and/or a psychiatric screening may be used to help determine if the itch is psychosomatic.
Itching due to stress may last for a few days. Stress can also exacerbate existing skin conditions.
The skin-crawling feeling comes from the activation of the stress response. Treating anxiety can help long term, but in the moment, countering the stress response with relaxation techniques and exercises may help you find relief.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Psychogenic pruritus.Misery L, Dutray S, Chastaing M, Schollhammer M, Consoli SG, Consoli SM.Psychogenic itch.Transl Psychiatry.2018;8(1):52. doi:10.1038/s41398-018-0097-7Buteau A, Reichenberg J.Psychogenic pruritus and its management.Dermatologic Clinics.2018;36(3):309-314. doi:10.1016/j.det.2018.02.015Misery L.Pruriplastic itch—a novel pathogenic concept in chronic pruritus.Front Med.2021;7:615118. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.615118American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.What makes us itch?Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep.2021;20;17:38-42. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2021.09.006American Psychological Association.The link between skin and psychology.Jain, S.. (2013).Problematic pruritus: Seeking a cure for psychogenic itch.Current Psychiatry.Vol. 12, No. 10.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Psychogenic pruritus.Misery L, Dutray S, Chastaing M, Schollhammer M, Consoli SG, Consoli SM.Psychogenic itch.Transl Psychiatry.2018;8(1):52. doi:10.1038/s41398-018-0097-7Buteau A, Reichenberg J.Psychogenic pruritus and its management.Dermatologic Clinics.2018;36(3):309-314. doi:10.1016/j.det.2018.02.015Misery L.Pruriplastic itch—a novel pathogenic concept in chronic pruritus.Front Med.2021;7:615118. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.615118American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.What makes us itch?Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep.2021;20;17:38-42. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2021.09.006American Psychological Association.The link between skin and psychology.Jain, S.. (2013).Problematic pruritus: Seeking a cure for psychogenic itch.Current Psychiatry.Vol. 12, No. 10.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Psychogenic pruritus.Misery L, Dutray S, Chastaing M, Schollhammer M, Consoli SG, Consoli SM.Psychogenic itch.Transl Psychiatry.2018;8(1):52. doi:10.1038/s41398-018-0097-7Buteau A, Reichenberg J.Psychogenic pruritus and its management.Dermatologic Clinics.2018;36(3):309-314. doi:10.1016/j.det.2018.02.015Misery L.Pruriplastic itch—a novel pathogenic concept in chronic pruritus.Front Med.2021;7:615118. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.615118American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.What makes us itch?Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep.2021;20;17:38-42. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2021.09.006American Psychological Association.The link between skin and psychology.Jain, S.. (2013).Problematic pruritus: Seeking a cure for psychogenic itch.Current Psychiatry.Vol. 12, No. 10.
American Psychological Association.Psychogenic pruritus.
Misery L, Dutray S, Chastaing M, Schollhammer M, Consoli SG, Consoli SM.Psychogenic itch.Transl Psychiatry.2018;8(1):52. doi:10.1038/s41398-018-0097-7
Buteau A, Reichenberg J.Psychogenic pruritus and its management.Dermatologic Clinics.2018;36(3):309-314. doi:10.1016/j.det.2018.02.015
Misery L.Pruriplastic itch—a novel pathogenic concept in chronic pruritus.Front Med.2021;7:615118. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.615118
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.What makes us itch?
Morin CB, Raef HS, Elmariah SB.Neuropathic itch treated with oral cannabinoids: A case series.JAAD Case Rep.2021;20;17:38-42. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2021.09.006
American Psychological Association.The link between skin and psychology.
Jain, S.. (2013).Problematic pruritus: Seeking a cure for psychogenic itch.Current Psychiatry.Vol. 12, No. 10.
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