Lichen planus patients and stressful events

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2008-04, Vol.22 (4), p.437-441
• Main Authors: Manolache, L, Seceleanu-Petrescu, D, Benea, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; case-control study; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; Humans; lichen planus; Lichen Planus - psychology; life events; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; stress; Stress, Psychological - complications; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2007.02458.x

Purpose  To evaluate the possible role of stress before the onset/extension of lichen planus. Patients and method  Forty‐six outpatients with lichen planus were enrolled. The design was a case‐control study (controls had skin diseases with low psychosomatic component). Stressful situations were evaluated using Holmes and Rahe's social readjustment rating scale. Results  Lichen planus had an incidence of 0.36% among dermatological conditions. In the lichen planus group, there was a female predominance (76%) and a median age around 50 years. More than 67% of cases experienced at least one stressful event, compared with 21% of controls (χ2 = 17.58, P < 0.001). The odds ratio was 7.44. There was a borderline significant difference in the mean number of stressful events between lichen planus patients and controls (P = 0.06). We divided the situations described by Holmes and Rahe into three categories: family, personal, and job or financial problems. The presence of major life events was significant different in patients and controls (P = 0.005). Family matters were described by 43.6% of lichen planus patients, statistically significant compared with controls (P = 0.002). In almost 25% of cases of lichen planus, ‘the stressful event’ was represented by the illness or death of someone dear. ‘Personal problems’ seemed to be important compared with controls (P = 0.04), exams representing 25% of these matters. There was no difference between the patients and controls regarding the importance of job or financial changes. Conclusion  Stressful situations, especially related to family, may have a role in the onset and extension of lichen planus lesions.