[Painful bruising syndrome: a psychogenic disease].

Introduction: Painful bruising syndrome was described by Gardner and Diamond in 1955. It is marked by spontaneous bruising, without any biological abnormality, affecting young women with pathological mental context.
Exegesis: We report three observations with painful bruising syndrome. In a patient, psychotherapy induced improvement in dermatological and articular manifestations. In other case, placebotherapy made clinical symptoms go away for a prolonged period.
Conclusion: Some etiological hypotheses have been postulated for Gardner and Diamond syndrome. However, published cases speak in favour of psychogenic hypothesis. Somatic and psychological approach must be offered to these patients.