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Emotions may affect the symptoms of skin disease. To study the effects of positive and negative emotions on itch and pain, 59 healthy women aged 18 years or older (mean age, 21) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Thirty women were shown a “positive” film fragment (from the movie Happy Feet), and 29 women saw a violent, “negative” film fragment (from the movie Irreversible). A neutral film fragment from the Discovery Channel served as a control. The women were asked to identify as strongly as possible with the feelings and emotions of the main character in the film fragments. Itch and pain were produced by electrical stimulation, iontophoresis of histamine, and exposure to ice-cold water, and responses were assessed before and after viewing the films. Assessment included subject ratings of itch and pain on a visual analog scale (VAS) and measurement of elapsed time from initiation of a stimulus until subject's request that it be terminated.
More than 90% of subjects reported moderate or high involvement with the film fragments. VAS scores for itch evoked by histamine and for pain evoked by ice water were significantly higher after viewing the negative film fragments. Mean tolerance thresholds did not differ between groups.
van Laarhoven AIM et al. Role of induced negative and positive emotions in sensitivity to itch and pain in women. Br J Dermatol 2012 Aug; 167:262. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10933.x)
Comment
Why do you scratch your head when someone asks you a question? Perhaps your scalp suddenly itches in response to the stressful question. These findings suggest that negative emotions may increase itching and pain. Patients with ongoing or severe negative emotions who suffer from itch may benefit from psychological treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation, and stress management.