Repressed anger may trigger both the onset of psoriasis
and individual 'flare-ups' of the disease. Psoriasis occurs when immature skin
cells rise to the surface of the skin, forming hard, itchy areas which sometimes
crack and bleed. The disease is chronic and can occur in outbreaks severe enough
to require hospitalization. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF),
worldwide figures show that 1% to 3% of people have psoriasis.
Anger-expression came up as being the most important
correlate of early-onset versus late-onset psoriasis. Psoriasis can begin at any
point in life. but the researchers labelled those who first experienced the
disease before the age of 40 as "early-onset" cases. "The younger-onset people
had more psychopathology and (repressed) anger.. The researchers found that when
you talk to patients with psoriasis, many of them will make a very direct link
between a stressful life situation and a flare-up of their psoriasis. The stress
is often from an unresolved interpersonal conflict.
Skin & Allergy News (September
1997)
Eds Note: Psoriasis is
a known immune system malfunction and obviously to any thinking person
'repressed anger' does not cause psoriasis. To even consider that it does is
typical of the blinkered approach by so may medical researchers into problem
diseases like psoriasis. Of course stress may contribute to an outbreak of
psoriasis but never would it be the direct cause of the underlying condition!
