Skin diseases and Mental health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Psychodermatological Disorders in Patients with Primary Psychiatric Conditions
ABSTRACT
Background:
Psychodermatoses and their associations with mental health problems are one of the most frequent research themes in dermatology out-patient settings. Surprisingly however, very few studies have been conducted to evaluate psychodermatoses among subjects with primary psychiatric disorders. As such, the relationship between pre-existing psychiatric disorders and co-morbid psychodermatoses are underrepresented in literature.
Objective:
Aims This study examined the prevalence and distribution spread of psychodermatoses among adults with primary psychiatric disorders and determined the association between psychodermatological disorders and underlying psychiatric diagnosis.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analytical study involving 107 adult psychiatric patients was conducted at a tertiary healthcare facility in Southwestern Nigeria. Co-morbid psychodermatological disorders (PDs) were identified and classified using pre-existing classification systems. Bivariate analysis was conducted to determine the association between psychodermatoses and underlying psychiatric disorders. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results:
Seventy-five (70.1%) of mental-health patients had at least one co-morbid psychodermatoses. The prevalence of psychodermatoses was highest in patients with affective disorders (75%) and least in those with schizophrenia(68.2%). PDs resulting from delusions/hallucinations (PDDH) and somatoform PPDMS were 9 and 13 times more frequent in patients with anxiety disorders compared with other psychiatric disorders (p= 0.013 and 0.003 respectively) In contrast, patients with schizophrenia were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with PDDH (p=0.002) A weak but significant negative association was also found between psychophysiological PDs and anxiety disorders (phi = -0.236, p=0.015).
Conclusions:
This study provides important insights into the overwhelming burden of psychodermatological conditions in mental health patients and specific associations with underlying psychiatric diagnosis. Clinical Trial: IRC/IEC/00045553
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