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December 8, 1955
To the Editor: Drs. Obermayer and Shaw have read implications into this paper which were not intended. It is not meant as a critique of dermatological practice, nor did we wish to call into question the awareness of dermatologists of emotional factors. The patient's peregrinations and hectic search for a cure and his failure to derive lasting benefit from treatment were cited as reflections of his disturbance. His loss of economic status was also symptomatic of the degree of his disturbance and due to his cessation of self-supporting activity and was not cited in an effort to charge anyone with pauperizing him. However, the total dependency to which this patient was reduced was a fact apparent on admission to the hospital.
My failure to cite the twelve hours of psychotherapy is an oversight for which I am sorry, but it does not in any way change the