ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic urticaria is one of the commonest skin disease characterized by rashes or lesions or wheals which may last from one day to six months. psychological disorders have been found associated with quality of life. Poor quality of life may lead to diverse psychological disorders. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess if there is any relation between chronic urticaria and psychological disorders. Methods: This was a cross-sectional type of study conducted at Department of Psychiatry & Department of Dermatology in the FH Medical College, Tundla. Standardized self-assessment psychological questionnaires (General health questionnaires-GHQ-28) were used to assess the mental state of all the participants of both groups. Results: Anxiety was found in 75 group I patients in comparison of 19 subjects of group II healthy subjects. Depression was found in 62 chronic urticaria patients and in 12 healthy subjects of group I and group II respectively (p<0.01). Further, out of 100 chronic urticaria patients, 65 patients were suffering from psychosomatic disorders; whereas, psychosomatic disorders were found in 17 healthy subjects of group II (p<0.01). It is evident from figure 1 that disability in social functions was established in 73 chronic urticaria patients and 15 healthy subjects of group I and group II correspondingly (p<0.01). Conclusion: Findings of the current study conclude that psychological disorders are found as comorbidity in chronic urticaria patients. Therefore, Psychiatrist assistance is unavoidable for the patients suffering from chronic urticaria to avoid as well as treatment of psychological disorders. However, studies on larger population are required to establish relationship between chronic urticaria and psychiatric disorders