TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Pruritus in Patients with No Underlying Skin Disease A1 - Ahmed, Rehana L. A2 - Soutor, Carol A2 - Hordinsky, Maria K. PY - 2017 T2 - Clinical Dermatology AB - Pruritus (itch) is the unpleasant sensation of the skin that results in a desire to scratch. It is a major symptom of many cutaneous and systemic diseases. Pruritus can range from mild to severe, and may be intermittent or chronic (lasting longer than 6 weeks). Pruritus can have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and has been associated with depression, decreased sleep quality, and global distress.1 The authors of a recent case-control study of patients with chronic pruritus observed that the impact of chronic pruritus on HRQOL may be similar to that of chronic pain.2 Pruritus has multiple etiologies in patients with and without underlying skin disease. The International Forum for the Study of Itch published a clinical classification of pruritus3 in which they proposed 6 categories for pruritus based on the underlying origin: SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1177006540 ER -