Body-related Attitudes, Behavior, and Locus of Control in Dermatological Patients Atteggiamenti Relativi Al Corpo, Comportamenti E Locus of Control in Pazienti Dermatologici

This paper presents the results of two pilot studies on the relevance of three aspects of generalized control orientations (iniernality, powerful others control, and chance control) in dermatological outpatients. Locus of control beliefs (IPC scales) and attitudes as well as behavior related to personal hygiene and health were measured in first study in a sample of 120 adult patients presenting to a dermatological outpatient clinic. In a second study locus of control scores (IPC scales) were compared for selected samples of 105 dermatological adult patients with presumably psychosomatic disorders (alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and vitiligo) and 105 dermatological adult pauents with organic disorders (androgenetic alopecia, contact dermatitis, and pityriasis versicolor, which were paired for their different etiologies, but similar symptoms. The results confirm the relationship between generalized control beliefs and hygienc/health-relatcd attitudes and behavior, which are especially marked for fatalistic externality. "Psychosomatic" dermatological patients scored higher in powerful others control and the "organic" dermatological patients scored higher in chance control/fatalism. Disorder-specific manifestations of the three aspects of control orientations are described for the six different dermatological disorders. The discussion treats the relevance of the specific manifestations of control orientations in dermatological patients in relation to treatment and symptom recurrence.