Short report
Group Psychotherapy with Psoriasis Patients
J. de Korte
Psoriasis is a chronical disease of the skin with an indistinct etiology and of frequent occurrence. Because of the human significance of the skin in our culture, psoriasis not only is a medical problem, but a psychococial problem as well. Patients may experience problems of shame and anxiety, relational and sexual probems.
In 1974 a group psychotherapy started in the psychodermatological department of the Binnengasthuis, Amsterdam. This project has two goals: deidentification with the skin (because of the negative dominance of the skin), and development of interactional skills (because of relational problems).
The group developed through three stages: orientation, exploration, and involvation.
During the group process we experienced the phenomenon of regression to the skin. The therapy resulted in an improvement of the psychosocial functioning of the patients. It should be stressed that only a wellfunctioning team, with professionals from different disciplines, is able to cope with the medical and psychosocial problems of the psoriasis-patient.