Treatment and Mapping of Impostor Phenomenon

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The aim of this study is to evaluate persons/patients with different skin diseases or pain to evaluate whether unhealthy perfectionism, stress, anxiety, impostor phenomenon (inability to realistically assess your competence and skills) and lack of self-compassion (a positive attitude towards ourselves), have impact on symptoms, handling, and treatment regarding some dermatological diseases/pain.

Detailed Description
-----------------
The investigators have noticed that these conditions are common among patients attending the clinic. The investigators therefore want to do mapping of the occurrence and make an intervention to be able to change and evaluate handling of these patients. The hypothesis is that there is a connection between these conditions and that they are all part of the patients´ disease. The study will be done by using validated questionnaires which are answered anonymously using a code, that is known only by the participant, and with exercises/interventions for five or ten weeks. The questionnaires and interventions are formerly used in several international studies and by the investigators in populations of healthy persons with different professions. Examples of diseases: Localised provoked vulvodynia (former vulvar vestibulitis) is a state of pain that mainly affects young women. The symptoms are localized to the vulvar vestibulum and provoked by touch and experienced by the patient as pain or burning. The aetiology is not clearly known but probably due to both physical and psychological factors. Treatment is due to several strategies like treating the pain, rehabilitation of the perineum, and psychosocial support. Persons with this type of pain will also answer a short questionnaire regarding their symptoms. Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating without known cause. Hyperhidrosis may be primary focal or multifocal with debut in childhood. Secondary hyperhidrosis is often due to another disease. Hyperhidrosis often means big stress on mental health but may also affect physical functions. Persons with hyperhidrosis estimate their quality of life equal with those affected by severe acne or psoriasis. The investigators´ ongoing research with mapping of these different traits of character shows that the occurrence is increasing, but no treatment has so far been available in Sweden. The investigators therefore want to evaluate whether treatment by intervention with one or two exercises each week may diminish the occurrence of impostor phenomenon and to be able to influence the disease. The questionnaires that will be used are Self-Compassion scale short version (SCS-SF), Clance Impostor Phenomenon scale (CIPS), Perceived Stress scale 4 (PSS-4), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2), and Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire short form (CPQ-SF). These questionnaires are validated by other investigators and used in several international research studies. The questionnaires have already been translated from English to Swedish, except CIPS that has been translated and back-translated. There will also be questions on gender, age, and term. The software for statistical analyses is Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Before starting treatment, the participants will get a web-based survey including twenty questions about impostor phenomenon (CIPS), six questions about stress and anxiety (PSS-4 and GAD-2), twelve questions about self-compassion (SCS-SF) and six questions about perfectionism (CPQ-SF). The questionnaires are repeated week twelve and 24 after intervention. After inclusion and answering the first questionnaire the persons are asked to participate in a series of one or two interventions, 30 minutes each, every week for ten or five weeks respectively.

Official Title
-----------------
Treatment and Mapping of Self-compassion, Perfectionism, Stress, Anxiety and Impostor Phenomenon in Patients With Different Dermatological Diseases and Pain

Conditions
-----------------
Dermatoses, Vestibulodynia, Hyperhidrosis, Pain Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Impostor tasks


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Persons attending the Dept of Dermatology and Venereology due to dermatological diseases or pain - Exclusion Criteria: Age under 18, not able to read/speak Swedish -

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: All patients will get the same questionnaires and the same intervention
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Treatment for five weeks<br>The patients will get questionnaires before and 12 weeks and 24 weeks after intervention. The intervention will last for 5 weeks. | Behavioral: Impostor tasks<br>* Tasks to do every week<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Signs of impostor | Questionnaire regarding impostor | At the beginning, after 12 and 24 weeks | 
| Signs of disease/pain | Questionnaire regarding symptoms | At the beginning, after 12 and 24 weeks |