[Psychological aspects of pruritus and therapy options].

BACKGROUND: Besides biological factors, which cause or influence chronic pruritus, more and more attention has recently also been paid to psychological and psychoneuroimmunological factors which uphold the symptom.

OBJECTIVES: This review article gives an overview of the state of research regarding psychological and psychoneuroimmunological factors and the resulting therapeutic options.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article is based on a literature search in the PubMed database.

RESULTS: Under experimental conditions, pruritus can be induced by verbal instructions and modulated by placebo and nocebo effects. Stressful life events can also induce pruritus or its exacerbation. This can also be demonstrated on a cellular level.

CONCLUSION: The knowledge that pruritus intensity is modulated by cognitions, behavioral factors, and stress is important for the development and application of psychological interventions. More research should be done regarding psychological interventions in the treatment of chronic itch and they should be applied clinically more often.