Hypochondriasis Circumscripta: A Neglected Concept with Important Implications in Psychodermatology

Collaboration between Psychiatrists and Other Allied Medical Specialists for the Treatment of Delusional Disorders

Background: There is increasing evidence that individuals with psychosis are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and several other medical comorbidities. In delusional disorder (DD), this is particularly so because of the relatively late onset age. Aims: The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize the literature on the necessity for medical collaboration between psychiatrists and other specialists. Methods: A non-systematic narrative review was carried out of papers addressing referrals and cooperation among specialists in the care of DD patients. Results: Psychiatrists, the primary care providers for DD patients, depend on neurology to assess cognitive defects and rule out organic sources of delusions. Neurologists rely on psychiatry to help with patient adherence to treatment and the management of psychotropic drug side effects. Psychiatrists require ophthalmology/otolaryngology to treat sensory deficits that often precede delusions; reciprocally, psychiatric consults can help in instances of functional sensory impairment. Close collaboration with dermatologists is essential for treating delusional parasitosis and dysmorphophobia to ensure timely referrals to psychiatry. Conclusions: This review offers many other examples from the literature of the extent of overlap among medical specialties in the evaluation and effective treatment of DD. Optimal patient care requires close collaboration among specialties.

[Glossalgia as a psychodermatological syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To study clinical characteristics of burning mouth syndrome or glossalgia is a functional disorder with painful sensations in the oral cavity with verification of the psychopathological structure, typology and nosology of the syndrome within the continuum of neurotic/psychotic disorders and dermatological pathology, i.e. lichen planus (LP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study sample (n=30, 27 female, mean age 59.3±15.6 years) was examined by dermatologist, neurologist and psychiatrist both clinically and psychometrically. The patients met the diagnostic criteria for glossalgia according to the IASP classification and ICD-10 for glossodynia (code K14.6). In 7 subjects, there was comorbidity with LP of the oral mucosa.

RESULTS

The psychopathological picture of glossalgia syndrome has a binary structure. Basic coenesthesiopathies, ranging in severity from homonomous sensations (isteralgias) to heteronomic sensopathies (senestopathies, senesthesia), are associated with secondary hypochondriacal phenomena: from health anxiety and monopatophobia to mastery of ideas and somatopsychic confusion, respectively. According to the psychopathological register (neurotic/psychotic) and the fact of objective verification of a dermatological disease (hypochondria sine materia/cum materia), there are three types of glossalgic syndrome: 1) organo-neurotic; 2) somatopsychotic; 3) dermatological (stress-induced somatic reactions).

CONCLUSION

BMS is a local syndrome limited to the oral cavity, however, in fact, it covers the entire clinical spectrum of psychosomatic pathology from mental diseases to psychodermatological ones.