Personality Features in Essential Hyperhidrosis

Abstract

The psychological aspects of essential hyperhidrosis, while long recognized, have been minimally investigated. This study compares the personality features of hyperhidrotic subjects to those of normal subjects and persons suffering from dermatological disorders of nonpsychogenic etiology, using the Shanan Sentence Completion Technique, Stein Self Description Questionnaire, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Rorschach Test. Hyperhidrotic subjects differ significantly in their lower overall coping ability, avoidance patterns of defense and tendency towards impulsivity and poorly-integrated emotional response but not in their lower than expected level of manifest anxiety. It is suggested that essential hyperhidrosis is based on a genetic predisposition to excessive emotional sweating. Developmental factors, underlying psychological conflicts and stressful life situations is all likelihood determine the extent to which this predisposition is symptomatically manifested. The role of psychotherapeutic and behavioral techniques in the conservative treatment of the disorder and in future research, is seen as strengthened by these findings.