[The disease course and psychosocial events in inpatient treatment of atopic eczema patients--a pilot study].

Our pilot study deals with the systematic investigation of the clinical experience that, in correlation with psychosocial events, atopic dermatitis may take an unexpected course (deterioration or improvement) during hospitalization. We describe our procedures regarding the proposal of hypotheses, the operationalization of the variables "deterioration of eczema" and "psychosocial factor", and our methods in gaining the data required. In the evaluation of 19 courses of treatment, we first checked the possible correlations between individual deterioration of eczema and various psychosocial events. We had to rule out, however, that a positive reaction like this was purely coincidental. In this respect, the event "confrontation with every day life" has significantly been confirmed. We discuss possible further studies which may ensue from our psychosomatic research concept.