Attentional bias towards itch: The effect of psychological distress and its effect on quality of life for persons with chronic itch

Itch is a sensation that draws attention. However, this becomes dysfunctional when more attention is given to itch related stimuli compared to other stimuli, e.g. Attentional Bias (AB), which might be the case for chronic itch. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify the existence of an AB. It was expected that people with chronic itch would have an AB towards itch related visual stimuli and that a higher level of psychological distress could predict a higher level of AB. Finally, it was expected that a higher level of AB would be associated with a more severe impact on quality of life. A sample of five patients with chronic itch, as a result of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, participated in the study. To test the presence of an AB towards itch related visual stimuli, a dot-probe test was performed. Furthermore, the level of psychological distress and quality of life were measured using the DASS-21 and the DLQI, respectively. A paired-samples t-test, multiple linear...Show moreItch is a sensation that draws attention. However, this becomes dysfunctional when more attention is given to itch related stimuli compared to other stimuli, e.g. Attentional Bias (AB), which might be the case for chronic itch. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify the existence of an AB. It was expected that people with chronic itch would have an AB towards itch related visual stimuli and that a higher level of psychological distress could predict a higher level of AB. Finally, it was expected that a higher level of AB would be associated with a more severe impact on quality of life. A sample of five patients with chronic itch, as a result of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, participated in the study. To test the presence of an AB towards itch related visual stimuli, a dot-probe test was performed. Furthermore, the level of psychological distress and quality of life were measured using the DASS-21 and the DLQI, respectively. A paired-samples t-test, multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. The results do not indicate the presence of an AB toward visual itch related stimuli in a population with chronic itch. Furthermore, psychological distress was not a significant predictor for the level of AB. Finally, no significant association was found between the level of AB and quality of life. Future research should examine different stadia of the attentional process towards itch related stimuli. This would help guide the development of interventions for patients with chronic itch.Show less

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Attentional bias towards itch: The effect of psychological distress and its effect on quality of life for persons with chronic itch