SABA BASOGLU YAVUZ
Current Research and Reviews in Psychology and Psychiatry - 2023;3(1):10-26
Linear immunoglobulin A (Linear IgA) bullous dermatosis is a rare, idiophatic and specific dermatological condition characterized by blisters forming in the skin and mucous membranes. Linear IgA is known to be an autoimmune disease, however, it is also defined as a group of Medically Unexplained Symptoms, since the exact mechanism of lesion development is not well understood and the treatment is contentious. Although Linear IgA is identified as being strongly related to psychological features, these have been investigated by a very small number of studies. The study presented here can be the first qualitative psychological research on Linear IgA. It employs Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in order to engage in a deeper examination of the impact of undergoing Linear IgA experience, and how the patient attempts to make sense of the skin. The participant is 50 years old male who lives with Linear IgA for ten years. Data collection was designed in the form of a semi-structured, one-to-one, in-depth interview, which lasted ninety minutes to elicit the detailed stories, thoughts and feelings from the participant. Five superordinate themes emerged from the analysis of the participant’s experiences. Findings suggest that Linear IgA affects the participant’s life by the appearance of skin, which shapes how he construes himself and his social world. The skin also represents a projector, which allows him to see his own emotions, fantasies and existential concerns. These findings were discussed by engaging in a dialogue with both clinical psychological and phenomenological philosophical literature.
