Hostname: page-component-89b8bd64d-5bvrz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-06T16:13:34.826Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hyperhidrosis: A Case Study and Theoretical Formulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Ann Moylan  and
Mark R. Dadds
Ann Moylan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Queensland
Mark R. Dadds
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Queensland
Get access

Abstract

A case study is presented of a 20-year-old male who experienced marked increases in body temperature and profuse sweating of the forehead and trunk when in formal social situations. No other physiological nor psychological manifestations of anxiety were admitted to and no situational avoidance was reported. Pretreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up self-report measures and daily self-monitoring of intensity and frequency of sweating were collected to evaluate treatment effects. Treatment was conducted over a period of 20 weeks. Cued conditioning and desensitisation were initially employed, however treatment effect was difficult to determine. The effects of an inadvertent in vivo exposure in week 6 of treatment and the subsequent change in treatment to exposure and cognitive therapy are discussed. The positive effects of treatment, which led to a decrease in the frequency and intensity of the sweating response, were evident at the completion of treatment and well maintained at 60 weeks follow-up. The use of exposure and cognitive therapy as a suitable treatment for this disorder are discussed in light of other anxiety disorders.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , June 1992 , pp. 87 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Allen, J.A., Armstrong, J.E., & Roddie, I.E. (1974). Sweat responses of a hyperhidrotic subject. British Journal of Dermatology, 90, 277–281.Google Scholar
Bar, L.H., & Kuypers, B.R. (1973). Behaviour therapy in dermatological practice. British Journal of Dermatology, 88, 591–598.Google Scholar
Clark, D.M. (1989). Anxiety states. Panic and generalised anxiety. In Hawton, K., Salkovskis, P.M., Kirk, J., & Clarks, D.M. (Eds), Cognitive Behahviour Therapy for Psychiatric Problems (pp. 52–96) New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cloward, R.B. (1969). Hyperhidrosis. Journal of Neuro Surgery, 30, 545–551.Google Scholar
Dosuzkov, T. (1975). Idrosophibia: A form of pregenital conversion. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 44, 253–265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drimmer, E.J. (1985). Desensitisation and benztopine for palmar hyperhidrosis. Psychosomatics, 26, 888–889.Google Scholar
Dullier, P., & Gentry, W.D. (1980). Use of biofeedback in treating chronic hyperhidrosis: A preliminary report. British Journal of Dermatology, 103, 143–146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engels, W.D. (1982). Dermatologic disorders. Psychosomatic illness review No. 4 in a series. Psychosomatics, 23, 1209–1219.Google Scholar
Engels, W.D., & Wittkower, E.D. (1980). Skin Disorders. In Kaplan, H.I., Freedman, A.M. and Sadock, B.J. (Eds.), Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, Vol. 2 Third Edition, (pp.1930–1940) Baltimore: William & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Herrmann, F., Prose, P.H., & Sulzberger, M.B. (1952). Studies of quantity and distribution of thermogenic sweat delivery to the skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 18, 71.Google Scholar
Jones, R.G. (1968). A factored measure of Ellis's Irrational Belief System with personality and maladjustment correlates. Unpublished Doctoral dissertation. Texas Technological University, Texas.Google Scholar
King, M.G., & Stanley, A.V. (1986). The treatment of hyperhidrosis: A case report. Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 14, 61–64.Google Scholar
Kuypers, B.R., & Cotton, D.W. (1972). Conditioning of sweating, a preliminary report. British Journal of Dermatology, 87, 154–160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lerer, B. (1977). Hyperhidrosis: A review of its psychological aspects. Psychosomatics, 18, 28–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lerer, B., & Jacobowitz, J. (1981). Treatment of essential hyperhidrosis by psychotherapy. Psychosomatics, 22, 536–538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mathews, A.M., Gelder, M.G., & Johnston, D.W. (1981). Agoraphobia: Nature and Treatment. London: Tavistock Publications.Google Scholar
O'Donovan, W.J. (1950). Modern Practice in Dermatology. London: Butterworth.Google Scholar
Watson, D., & Friend, R. (1969). Measurement of social evaluative anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 33, 448–457.Google Scholar
Whitlock, F.A. (1976). Psychological Aspects of Skin Disease. Kent: Saunders Co.Google Scholar