Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Wart Remission

Abstract

The natural history of chyluria is not well known. We have followed 72 patients with chyluria who have not had treatment and the condition has disappeared in 36 cases (50%). In these cases the duration of chyluria varied from 3 days to 20 years, with an average of 44.3 months, but it was less than 6 months in about half of the cases.

Case Details

Personal Characteristics

14-year-old girl, intelligent, articulate, good general medical health, no history of significant medical illnesses or hospitalization, stable family background, cheerful, pleasant, well adjusted

Clinical Characteristics

Warts first appeared at age 9 on the third finger of the right hand, proliferated over both hands and feet, over 50 warts on her hands of both the filiform and planar types (verrucae vulgaris and verrucae planar), four additional warts on the soles of her feet and a small cluster on the left tibial tuberosity

Remission Characteristics

Warts began to remit a week after the death of her grandfather, completely gone six weeks later

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Psychological association of warts with her grandfather, belief that the warts would disappear after her grandfather's death

Clinical Treatment

Hypnotherapy, cryotherapy, electrodessication, keratolytic acids, topical medication

Non-Clinical Treatment

Self-hypnosis, sensory imagery suggestions

Additional Notes

The girl believed that her warts were a gift from her grandfather, a life bond and a secret between them. She felt that by keeping the warts 'alive', she could keep her grandfather alive longer. She was re-hypnotised and suggestions were made that she would lose her warts rapidly after her grandfather died or, if he survived, when his health was stable again.