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Psychodermatology UK 2007

The fifth annual multidisciplinary meeting for those in the UK with an interest in psychodermatology took place at The Medical Society of London on Thursday 25th January, 2007. There were 95 in attendance, with another 50 showing an interest in the meeting. As in previous years, those attending included dermatologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, specialist nurses and general practitioners.



With Dr Ruth Taylor, Consultant Psychiatrist at The Royal London Hospital, in the chair, the first session on "Body Dysmorphic Disorder and The Skin" was opened by Dr Les Millard, Consultant Dermatologist, Selly Oak Hospital Birmingham. The diagnosis can be a difficult one. There are clues to its existence, including when there is little to see, but great concern is expressed by the patient. The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire was recommended as a screening tool. Dr David Veale, Consultant Psychiatrist at The Institute of Psychiatry, London followed with an account of the psychiatric differential diagnosis and treatment of the condition. There are now NICE guidelines available: cognitive behaviour therapy has proved a successful treatment. Although there is some evidence in favour of antidepressants as a medical treatment, the usefulness of antipsychotics remains less certain. Further research is required.



After tea the second session on "Psychosocial interventions in dermatology: the nursing contribution" was chaired by Dr Tony Bewley, Consultant Dermatologist at The Royal London Hospital. A joint presentation was given by Dr Steven Ersser, Reader at the School of Nursing, Southampton, and Philip Watkins, Dermatology Nurse Specialist, Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust. Nurses necessarily spend more time with their patients than other professionals, and therefore have an opportunity to hear more than their colleagues. It is important to expand but not extend the nursing contribution to dermatology, with the appropriate use of effective psychosocial interventions that complement the work of others: a multidisciplinary approach is ideal.



The meeting closed with the announcement that the next meeting of Psychodermatology UK will be on Thursday 24th January 2008, again at The Medical Society of London. In the meantime there will be an ad hoc meeting of some of us to draw up a draft constitution for the consideration of all attendees and others interested: it is agreed that a formal but independent structure to the association is now required.



For further information, and to ensure your correct details are on the mailing list, please contact sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk. Otherwise, please note the 12th Congress of the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry is in Wroclaw, Poland, June 14 to June 17, 2007: see www.ESDaP2007.org.

Finally, there is a training course in psychodermatology for interested trainee dermatologists, in Brussels, 18-20 July, 2007, organised by the EADV: see www.eadv.org.
 

The Fifth Annual Meeting For Those With An Interest In Psychodermatology will be on
Thursday, 25th January 2007,
at
The Medical Society of London, Chandos Street, London W1.
 

Please confirm your attendance by contacting Sharon Singh, Dermatology Secretary, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital : 020 8746 8170 or Sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk

Psychodermatology UK 2006
 

The fourth multidisciplinary meeting for those in the UK with an interest in psychodermatology took place at The Medical Society of London on Thursday 26th January, 2006. There were 67 in attendance, with many more showing an interest in the meeting. Those attending included dermatologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, specialist nurses and general practitioners.

With Dr Christopher Bridgett Psychiatrist in the chair, for first half of the meeting Dr Stephen Logsdail, Psychiatrist and Dr John Wilkinson, Dermatologist presented their work in High Wycombe: “A District General hospital Psychodermatology Clinic”. The weekly clinic started in 2003: although patients can be seen jointly, they are usually seen separately by the two clinicians. Two audits were presented, one from the early days of the clinic, and one more recent: each aimed to reveal the diagnoses of cases being seen, treatments given, and outcomes. A broad range of dermatological and psychiatric conditions were found in both audits, and generally the clinic was regarded a success: it was thought however better results might be achieved with longer periods of follow-up. It was especially difficult to engage and treat successfully patients with primary psychiatric illnesses. Several illustrative cases were presented, stimulating a lively discussion from the floor.

The second session was chaired by Dr Richard Staughton, Dermatologist, with Dr Ruth Taylor, Psychiatrist and Dr Anthony Bewley, Dermatologist presenting “Parasitophobia and its management”. Their clinic is also held weekly, and started in 2001; they see their patients jointly, and recommend this as a successful approach especially for patients with primarily psychiatric illness. A classification of the parasitosis syndromes was offered, and the importance of organic aetiology emphasised. With the functional syndromes “delusion of parasitosis” is usually more appropriate as a diagnosis, rather than “parasitophobia”. Their preferred treatment is risperidone, often successful in small dosage. Again, the presentation lead to an animated discussion, with all four speakers being congratulated and thanked for providing a most informative afternoon.

Before breaking for wine the meeting discussed future arrangements. Links with the European Society for Dermatology & Psychiatry (ESDaP), and the UK Society for Behavioural Medicine - each with their own websites - were noted. Our proceedings are now available on the internet via www.psychodermatology.info


The next meeting will be on Thursday, 25th January, 2007, 1.30 – 5.30

For further information, and to ensure your correct details are on the mailing list, please contact sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk

 

PSYCHODERMATOLOGY UK

To all interested in our meetings


Having survived four years of annual meetings, our interest group seems to have established its place in the dermatological year. At our most recent meeting some felt that a more formal society could have benefits.
Please may we have your views? Please give them below, with your details, and return this to us.
Thanks!
Drs Chris Bridgett & Richard Staughton




Name:
Discipline:
Address:


Email:

Please return to
Sharon Singh,
Secretary to Dr Staughton,
Dermatology, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, SW10 9NH
sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk

The fourth annual meeting for those with an interest in psychodermatology will be on Thursday, 26th January 2006,
at The Medical Society of London, Chandos Street, London W1.

Please confirm your attendance by contacting Sharon Singh, Dermatology Secretary, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital : 020 8746 8170 or Sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk

UK PSYCHODERMATOLOGY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

The third meeting of the UK Psychodermatology Special Interest Group took place at the Medical Society of London on Thursday 27th of January 2005. There were 60 in attendance, with approximately another 50 showing interest in the meeting. Those attending included dermatologists, psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses.

The first half of the meeting, with Dr Christopher Bridgett, Psychiatrist, in the chair, was devoted to psoriasis. Professor Christopher Griffiths from The Hope Hospital, Manchester opened with a talk on “The Brain-Skin Axis in Psoriasis”. That stress can trigger the onset of psoriasis seems well known, though no good study exists to confirm this. What is supported now by robust research is that, for certain individuals with psoriasis, stress affects the reponse to treatment, and psychological interventions for these otherwise poor responders can be significantly helpful. The biological marker of the poor responders seems to be a characteristic hypocortisolic stress response. Dr Helen Richards, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at The Hope Hospital followed with a presentation reviewing the current status of our knowledge of what modern psychotherapy can offer patients with psoriasis. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) seem promising interventions: the target being the patient who is a “worrier”. Group treatments, especially including education, and “self-help”, seem important.

The second session after tea was chaired by Dr Richard Staughton, Dermatologist. Unfortunately Dr David Fenton was unable to attend: in his place Dr Staughton introduced the topic, “The Psychodermatology of Hair”, with a brief clinical overview, followed then as planned with an interesting account from Roy Shuttleworth, Consulting Clinical Psychologist of his work with patients with hair complaints. These included alopecia, trichotillomania and body dysmorphic disorder associated with male pattern baldness. Dr Susan MacDonald-Hull, Dermatologist, then introduced a general discussion on the topic.

The meeting closed with a discussion that confirmed the interest in future meetings, with an agreement that the next meeting will be on Thursday 26thJanuary 2006, at The Medical Society of London. A variety of possible topics were noted. A programme will be circulated in due course.

• The next European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP) Congress is in Giessen, Germany, May 5 to 7, 2005

• On October 14, 2005 there will be a ESDaP psychodermatology session at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology meeting in London.

• For further information about the special interest group, and to ensure your correct details are on the mailing list, please contact sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk

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The Second Annual British Meeting For Those With An Interest In Psychodermatology

AGENDA


Thursday, 22nd January 2004

To be held at: The Medical Society of London
Chandos Street, London, W1

Please confirm your attendance by calling Sharon Singh, Dermatology Secretary at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on: 020-8746-8170 or E-Mail: Sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk

Kindly sponsored exclusively by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Limited – manufacturers of Pimecrolimus Cream (Elidel)

UK PSYCHODERMATOLOGY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

The second meeting of the UK Psychodermatology Special Interest Group took place at the Medical Society of London on Thursday 22nd January 2004. There were 50 in attendance, with 148 also showing interest in the meeting. Those attending included dermatologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses.
With Dr Richard Staughton, Dermatologist in the chair, Dr Meg Price, President of the British Association of Dermatologists opened the first half of the meeting, which was devoted to the training implications of the 2003 All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin Report: “The Impact of Skin Diseases on Peoples Lives”1. She suggested that dermatology SpRs in future might be required to include psychocutaneous medicine in their training. Dr Catherine Hardwood, Dermatologist at Barts and The London, followed with an account of the postgraduate training opportunities for General Practitioners with a special interest in dermatology: one course had a module devoted to psychodermatology2. Nurse practitioner Jill Peters, Ipswich, then gave an account of the training available for specialist nurses in dermatology, highlighting the emphasis placed on psychology in their curriculum. The session was completed by Dr Sarah Riaz, SpR Dermatology at St Mary’s, who gave the results of a mapping exercise of current UK psychodermatology services: unfortunately they seem few and far between.
The second session after tea, chaired by Dr Chris Bridgett, Psychiatrist, was devoted to the impact of disfiguring skin conditions. James Partridge of Changing Faces3 opened the proceedings with an account of the work done by his charity. Dr Eileen Bradbury, Health Psychologist, then spoke on counselling people with disfiguring skin conditions: helping people to take control of their lives was the central task. Ray Jobling of The Psoriasis Association4 followed with an account of the negative social representations of skin disease in western culture. In the closing discussion, whether the suggestion from the All Party Parliamentary Group that a Code of Good Practice was needed in dermatology seemed uncertain. It was agreed however there is a need in the UK for adequate resources and appropriate training in psychodermatology5.

The next meeting of the UK Psychodermatology Special Interest Group will be on Thursday 7th January 2005 at 2pm, at The Medical Society of London.
Further information from: Sharon Singh – Secretary to Dr Richard Staughton, Daniel Turner Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital London SW10 9NH
Tel 020-8746-8170 E-mail sharon.singh@chelwest.nhs.uk

References/Further Information:

1.   All Party Parliamentary Group On Skin (2003) Report on the enquiry into the impact of skin diseases on people’s lives London     

      Further information E-mail: APGS@portcullisresearch.com

2.   Diploma in Clinical Dermatology Barts and The London SMD Queen Mary London University

See: www.qmw.ac.uk/postgrad/medicine.shtml    

3.   See: www.changingfaces.co.uk/ 

4.   See: www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/                                                       

5.   Gould WM (2004) Teaching Psychocutaneous Medicine  Arch Dermatol 140 282-284

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INAUGURAL MEETING

UK PSYCHODERMATOLOGY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

An inaugural meeting of the UK Psychodermatology Special Interest Group took place at the Medical Society of London on Thursday 23rd January 2003. There were 60 in attendance, with 100 also showing interest in the meeting. Those attending included dermatologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses.

Dr Richard Staughton, Consultant Dermatologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, opened the meeting with an account on the impact on his service of introducing a psychodermatology clinic. In particular this has provided for patients with atopic eczema the benefits of using the behaviour modification technique ‘habit reversal’1.

Dr Christopher Bridgett, Consultant Psychiatrist, then provided an overview of current psychodermatology practice, emphasising the value of a multi-disciplinary approach, including the skills of psychologist and nurse, as well as those of dermatologist and psychiatrist.

Carl Walker, Research Psychologist at Metropolitan University, London, closed the meeting with an account of research on the effectiveness of psychological treatment in the management of vitiligo.


The next meeting of the UK Psychodermatology Special Interest Group will be on Thursday 22nd January 2004 at 2pm, at The Medical Society of London.


Further information from: Sharon Singh – Secretary to Dr Richard Staughton, Daniel Turner Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital – 020-8746-8170.

1. Bridgett,C. Psychodermatology and Atopic Skin Disease in London 1989-1999 – Helping Patients to Help Themselves. Dermatol Psychosom 2000;1:183-186
 

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An Inaugural British Meeting For Those With An Interest In Psychodermatology

AGENDA

Thursday, 23rd January 2003

To be held at: The Medical Society of London
Chandos Street, London, W1

Many patients with skin disease have a significant psychological component whether primary, secondary or coincidental. In the United States of America and Europe forums exist for the discussion of such topics between those with daily dealings with skin patients. We therefore hope that this inaugural meeting could help form a special interest group in the United Kingdom, for regular meetings to exchange ideas.

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REGISTRATION FORM FOR:

An Inaugural British Meeting For Those With An Interest In Psychodermatology

Thursday, 23rd January 2003

 To be held at: The Medical Society of London
Chandos Street, London, W1 
 

1.         I will / will not be able to attend the above Inaugural British Meeting.

2.         I would like to join a British Psychodermatology special interest group should one be

            formed.                          Yes  /  No

 

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