Psychosomatic Medicine 16:505-515 (1954)
© 1954 American Psychosomatic Society

Unusual Wheal Reaction in a Tattoo

Psychosomatic Aspects in One Patient

¹ U. S. P. H. S. Hospital, Springfield, Missouri; formerly at Winter V. A. Hospital, Topeka, Kansas
² Menninger Foundation, Topeka, Kansas; formerly at Winter V. A. Hospital, Topeka, Kansas

Tattooing is a custom that has been widely studied in both the anthropological and, in certain aspects, the psychiatric literature. However, the problem of specific somatic reactions occurring in tattoos has been investigated to date primarily by the allergist and the dermatologist. The patient discussed in this report is one who was being treated by psychotherapy for his neurotic difficulties, and who during the course of this psychiatric investigation and observation, experienced an unusual wheal reaction in one of his tattoos, that of a dagger penetrating into and emerging from his skin. We had, therefore, an opportunity to study this phenomenon within the framework of the psychological constellations operative in the patient, and to consider the particular ways in which this "symptom" could be psychologically understood and meaningfully integrated into the totality of his behavior. The study of such a wheal phenomenon within this psychological frame of reference adds another investigative dimension to supplement the more fully studied dermatologic and allergic aspects.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. B. Edgerton and H. F. Dingman Tattooing and Identity International Journal of Social Psychiatry, April 1, 1963; 9(2): 143 - 153.