The skin expresses affection: a group intervention with psychodermatosis patients

Abstract

The skin is an organ that expresses affection and it is a way for individuals to have contact with the world. During a person’s initial development, the skin plays a crucial role in constituting the psychism, setting the boundary between the internal and external world. Emotional factors and stress are present both in triggering and worsening some skin diseases, which are called psychodermatosis, and therefore psychotherapeutic interventions are used as mechanisms to provide support. The purpose of this study was to analyze group intervention as a tool to reinforce new forms of affection expressions in patients with psychodermatosis being taken care at a dermatology outpatient clinic. For this purpose, a group of 6 patients was observed during a three-month-period. The sessions were taped, transcribed and submitted to qualitative analysis of the content. The results indicate that the group became a space to listen to and receive suffering, allowing the participants to see themselves and others, and also to test movements and changes regarding the way they relate with themselves and with others. It was concluded that group intervention may be an important tool to approach patients with psychodermatosis since it shows the emotional aspects present in these diseases, offering a new look and a more integrated care model.

Key words: skin, skin diseases, group psychotherapy.