About a case of excoriative disorder: Brief review of the literature

Abstract

The instinctive tendency to manipulate the skin and its small imperfections is a normal part of body-focused repetitive behaviors. When this behavior increases without control and causes somatic and psychic damage to the individual, we are dealing with a case of Excoriative Disorder (ET), a pathology that has been included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and that, in the Classification American Mental Disorders, is part of the disorders related to the obsessive-compulsive disorder. In adults, the lifetime prevalence of ET ranges between 3 and 5% and presents high comorbidities with affective problems, substance use and morbid personality traits. Although it is not apparently a severe pathology, it causes significant disability and requires systematic screening due to its frequent avoidance by both the affected patient and health professionals.