PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN WOMEN WITH NONNEOPLASTIC EPITHELIAL DISORDERS OF THE VULVA

The aim of this study was to evaluate psychological distress in 44 wom en with vulvar squamous cell hyperplasia and 21 with vulvar lichen scl erosus in order to examine the presence of psychological factors in th ese dermatologic disorders. Two psychometric tests were used to evalua te depressive status and various aspects of anger. No significant depr essive status was diagnosed with the former test either in patients wi th vulvar squamous cell hyperplasia or in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus. Patients with squamous cell hyperplasia had two components of anger (state and internal anger) that were significantly higher and three components (trait anger, exteriorization and control of anger) significantly lower than did the controls. In patients with lichen scl erosus all the components of anger were within the normal range. These findings suggest that psychological factors may be associated with vu lvar conditions, such as squamous cell hyperplasia, and may have some therapeutic implications in cases resistant to standard treatment.