[Personality structure of the psoriasis patient. Possibilities and necessities of differential psychodiagnosis in psychosomatic questions].

Current attempts in the research to identify a single relevant personality type amongst patients with psoriasis appear questionable from a factual and methodological approach. On the basis of psychometric personality data, we were able to identify five different personality structures amongst psoriatic patients. Therefore, in our opinion blanket testing directed toward individual personality characteristics is not indicated. Concern should be directed toward more thoroughly defined and differentiated questions via use of psychometric personality data. In discussion not only the problem of specificity but also the compelling necessity of a multi-variable psychometric approach, including temporal aspects, as well as subjective degree of illness, is elaborated.