NAIL BITING IN RHEUMATIC DISEASES

To ascertain if nail biting (usually considered a manifestation of emo tional tension) was associated with fibromyalgia, 387 patients attendi ng the Rheumatism Clinic at the Leeds General Infirmary were studied p rospectively. Bitten nails appeared to be a feature of youth rather th an of fibromyalgia. Patients with a full set of dentures were less lik ely to bite their nails than others, but it can and was done by 7%. Po sing the question about nail biting worried several patients, indicati ng the wisdom of seeking ethical approval even for ''noninvasive'' stu dies.