Abstract
Chronic itch is associated with increased stress, anxiety, and other mood disorders. In turn, stress and anxiety exacerbate itch, leading to a vicious cycle that affects patient behavior (scratching) and worsens disease prognosis and quality of life. This cycle persists across chronic itch conditions of different etiologies and even to some extent in healthy individuals, suggesting that the final common pathway for itch processing (the central nervous system) plays a major role in the relationship between itch and anxiety. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments that reduce anxiety have shown promising anti-itch effects. Further research is needed to establish specific central mechanisms of the itch-anxiety cycle and provide new targets for treatment.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 17-26 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews |
| Volume | 87 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Amygdala
- Anxiety
- Atopic dermatitis
- Itch
- Pruritus
- Psoriasis
- Stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Cite this
The vicious cycle of itch and anxiety. / Sanders, Kristen M.; Akiyama, Tasuku.
In: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, Vol. 87, 01.04.2018, p. 17-26.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The vicious cycle of itch and anxiety
AU - Sanders, Kristen M.
AU - Akiyama, Tasuku
PY - 2018/4/1
Y1 - 2018/4/1
N2 - Chronic itch is associated with increased stress, anxiety, and other mood disorders. In turn, stress and anxiety exacerbate itch, leading to a vicious cycle that affects patient behavior (scratching) and worsens disease prognosis and quality of life. This cycle persists across chronic itch conditions of different etiologies and even to some extent in healthy individuals, suggesting that the final common pathway for itch processing (the central nervous system) plays a major role in the relationship between itch and anxiety. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments that reduce anxiety have shown promising anti-itch effects. Further research is needed to establish specific central mechanisms of the itch-anxiety cycle and provide new targets for treatment.
AB - Chronic itch is associated with increased stress, anxiety, and other mood disorders. In turn, stress and anxiety exacerbate itch, leading to a vicious cycle that affects patient behavior (scratching) and worsens disease prognosis and quality of life. This cycle persists across chronic itch conditions of different etiologies and even to some extent in healthy individuals, suggesting that the final common pathway for itch processing (the central nervous system) plays a major role in the relationship between itch and anxiety. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments that reduce anxiety have shown promising anti-itch effects. Further research is needed to establish specific central mechanisms of the itch-anxiety cycle and provide new targets for treatment.
KW - Amygdala
KW - Anxiety
KW - Atopic dermatitis
KW - Itch
KW - Pruritus
KW - Psoriasis
KW - Stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041482428&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85041482428&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.01.009
DO - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.01.009
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29374516
AN - SCOPUS:85041482428
VL - 87
SP - 17
EP - 26
JO - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
JF - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
SN - 0149-7634
ER -