Higher psychological and psychovegetative strain in adolescents with atypical pigment naevi

Acta Derm Venereol. 2015 Jan;95(1):67-71. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1837.

Abstract

An observational, exploratory, cross-sectional study was performed to assess whether the presence of atypical naevi (AN) in adolescents is associated with psychological and psychovegetative stress parameters. Fifty-one students of a secondary school in Graz, Austria, completed a defined test procedure consisting of an initial period of rest, a standardised mental stress task, another period rest and a questionnaire, the change-sensitive symptom list (ASS-SYM). Electrocardiogram and blood pressure were recorded continuously. The study population was divided in two groups: probands without AN (NAN, n = 33), and probands with at least one AN (n = 18). We found higher values for the AN group in all scales of ASS-SYM, reaching statistical significance in the dimensions "nervousness and mental tension" (p = 0.025), "psychophysiological dysregulation" (p = 0.020), burden of pain" (p = 0.023) and "general symptoms and problems" (p = 0.031). Regarding physiological parameters, the AN group showed higher vegetative strain reflected in heart rate and heart rate varibility during the periods of rest as well as a reduced baroreceptor sensitivity. On the basis of our results, the presence of AN in adolescents seems to be associated with a higher vegetative arousal. Additionally, participants with AN complained significantly more often about stress-associated general psychological symptoms and problems.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior*
  • Age Factors
  • Austria
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Baroreflex
  • Blood Pressure
  • Cost of Illness
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nevus, Pigmented / diagnosis
  • Nevus, Pigmented / physiopathology*
  • Nevus, Pigmented / psychology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors