Application of psychoimmunotherapy in patients with alopecia universalis.

Mental stress and immunological abnormality have recently been listed as causes of alopecia universalis. This disease is difficult to treat with only ordinary pharmacotherapy. Thus, from the standpoint of psychoneuroimmunology, stress was relieved by relaxation and image therapy, and administration of small doses of a strong immunosuppressant was effective, leading to clinically favorable results. In addition, changes were recognized in the subpopulation of peripheral lymphocytes and in beta-endorphin before and after relaxation and image therapy. The treatment of alopecia universalis favorably changed the subpopulations of T cells. A patient suffering from alopecia is always under stress. Alleviating this stress facilitates recovery of immunological competence. Our method was effective in 5 of 6 cases with refractory alopecia universalis.