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Primary burning mouth syndrome is a term used for chronic oral mucosal pain with no identifiable organic cause. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of a psychiatric intervention for treating burning mouth syndrome based on a joint consultation with a psychiatrist and a dermatologist. The study was proposed to all patients who visited this consultation group between 2001 and 2017 for the treatment of primary burning mouth syndrome. The patients answered a questionnaire that was administered via mail. Of the 57 patients diagnosed with primary burning mouth syndrome, 38 were included. Seven patients (18.4%) no longer had pain; 8 (21.1%) estimated that the pain had decreased by greater than 50%; 11 (28.9%) estimated the decrease at between 30 and 50%, and 12 (31.6%) estimated a less than 30% decrease. Only 14 patients (36.8%) remained under treatment with antidepressants, as compared to 63.2% before the psychiatric intervention. This psychiatric intervention could be considered a valuable tool in the global burning mouth syndrome treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychogenic excoriations are also called neurotic exco-riations, dermatillomania or skin picking syndrome. We proposed diagnostic criteria and then performed a study of the psychiatric profiles of outpatients with psychoge-nic excoriations and the circumstances around the crea-tion of these excoriations. Although the results must be interpreted with caution because the study was perfor-med with only 10 patients, interesting data is provided about the onset of psychogenic excoriations, the beha-viour of picking, and comorbidity. Common or specific characteristics were identified according to type of case. The majority of patients associated first excoriations with personal problems. Four patients reported abuse in childhood or adolescence. This study confirms that skin picking is an impulsive reaction and does not belong to the obsessive-compulsive disorders: impulsivity is defi-ned by ineffective or failing control resulting in uninhi-bited behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factitious disorders, as pathomimesis and Münchhausen syndrome, have to be diagnosed early to avoid numerous exams and inadequate treatments, which intensify symptoms. Lesions are self-inflicted in a fully conscious manner. The patient does not search for direct benefits, hides his/her responsibility in the induction of lesions. Factitious disorders have to be differentiated from simulation and it is necessary to understand that they are the expression of an intense mental suffering, which is often unknown by the patient. Diagnosis is difficult, with various clinical manifestations, but it is not a diagnosis by a process of elimination: it is supported by the presence of personality disorders, usually borderline disorders. Management is complex and often disappointing. To keep a therapeutic relationship with the patient requires collaboration between all healthcare personals; psychotherapeutic treatment is possible only with the installation of a trusting relationship and with associated cares of physical symptoms.

Functional itch disorder or psychogenic pruritus is a poorly defined diagnosis. This paper sets out the proposed diagnostic criteria of the French Psychodermatology Group (FPDG). There are three compulsory criteria: localized or generalized pruritus sine materia, chronic pruritus (>6 weeks) and the absence of a somatic cause. Three additional criteria from the following seven items should also be present: a chronological relationship of pruritus with one or several life events that could have psychological repercussions; variations in intensity associated with stress; nocturnal variations; predominance during rest or inaction; associated psychological disorders; pruritus that could be improved by psychotropic drugs; and pruritus that could be improved by psychotherapies.