The Psychological Burden of Chronic Dermatological Diseases

ABSTRACT

The psychological burden of skin diseases should not be ignored as it can potentially affect the overall disability experienced by the patient. The relationship between skin diseases and psychiatric illness is bidirectional and is manifested as cause as well as effect. Dermatological disorders like acne, alopecia areata, psoriasis and vitiligo often have a severe form that causes disability and exclusion from a normal life .Psychiatric disorders like stress, anxiety and depression are seen to be instrumental in development and progression of dermatological diseases and this study is to ascertain the association between depression and anxiety with various dermatological diseases. Methods: A total of 100 patients, visiting the Out Patient Department of Dermatology, who are referred to Department of Psychiatry for the evaluation of Psychiatric symptom, were included in the study after obtaining written informed consent. Psychiatric morbidities were screened using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Results: The present study envisaged to explore a relationship between chronic dermatological diseases and psychiatric morbidities. Prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities was maximum in psoriasis (75%) followed by urticaria and Acne Vulgaris(65% each), Alopecia Areata(60%) and Vitiligo (50%). Depression with anxiety disorder (27%) followed by moderate depression with anxiety disorder (23%), anxiety disorder (10%) and severe depression with anxiety disorder (3%) were the most common psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusion: The present study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidities among patients with different dermatological illnesses. The growing relationship between skin and psychiatry has given birth to a new branch of medicine, i.e. psychodermatology, which marks the mutual relationship and interaction between psychiatry and dermatology.