Psychogenic and Neurogenic Components in Patients With Psychogenic or Neuropathic Pruritus

Psychogenic and Neurogenic Components in Patients With Psychogenic or Neuropathic Pruritus : PRURINEURO, a Pilot Study

Scientific research on pruritus is in intensive development, with significant advances in understanding its pathophysiology. The causes of pruritus are very huge; they can be classified into different categories; we can find dermatological causes, systemic causes, neuropathic or neurological causes, psychogenic or even idiopathic causes.

The diagnosis of psychogenic pruritus is often over stated, when no cause is found; therefore, it is important to see what is really relieving from psychic so as not to over-diagnose and adopt a therapy more in line with the real problem of the patient. In daily practice, it seems to have a tendency to separate psychogenic and neurogenic etiologies in the diagnosis of neuropathic or psychogenic pruritus.

In the case of patients with psychogenic pruritus and neuropathic pruritus, no study has attempted to study the respective part of psychogenic and neurogenic components. Consequently, it would therefore be interesting to assess the areas of superposition and distinction of neuropathic and psychogenic pruritus.

The aim of this pilot study is to assess the psychogenic and neurogenic components of psychogenic pruritus and neuropathic pruritus in order to improve understanding of the mechanism and therefore their management.

The main objective of this study is to highlight the differences and the potential common characteristics between psychogenic and neuropathic pruritus in order to improve the differential diagnosis between these two pathologies.

The secondary objective of this study is to describe the psychogenic and neurogenic characteristics of psychogenic and neuropathic pruritus.

PruriNeuro : Non-interventional single-center prospective study organized and practiced on humans for the development of medical knowledge, in which the data are obtained by validated questionnaires.

The duration of participation is estimated at 1 hour.

Questionnaires used :

• Critères diagnostiques du prurit psychogène (Diagnosis criteria of functional itch disorder or psychogenic pruritus, from the French psychodermatology group)
• NP5 questionnaire
• Questionnaire de Brest
• HADS
• TAS-20
• DN4i

Inclusion Criteria:

• Major (> 18 years old)
• Diagnosis of psychogenic pruritus or neuropathic pruritus made in consultation, in day hospital or in hospital, within the dermatology department at the CHRU de Brest
• Able to understand and agree to sign the information and non-opposition notice
• No opposition of the patient

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient under legal protection (guardianship, curatorship)
• Minor (<18 years old)
• Acute or chronic condition which could limit the patient's ability to the study's participation
• Inability to understand and sign the information and non-opposition notice
• Refusal to give no opposition