Citation

Lukavičiūtė L, Ganceviciene R, Navickas P, Navickas A, Grigaitiene J, Zouboulis CC. Dermatology 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Departments of Dermatology, Venereology, Allergology, and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Dessau, Germany, christos.zouboulis@klinikum-dessau.de.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Karger Publishers)

DOI

10.1159/000506627

PMID

32252051

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Skin diseases, especially those with visible manifestation, are considered to cause a major influence on global mental health. Therefore, we determined the prevalence and severity of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in a large sample of patients with facial dermatoses, namely acne, rosacea, folliculitis, and perioral dermatitis.

METHODS: The mental health of patients with facial dermatoses and respective controls was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and questions concerning suicidal ideation.

RESULTS: The study included 543 patients with facial dermatoses and 497 healthy individuals. Anxiety was present in 37.6% of the patients (14.9% of controls), depression in 21.7% (6.8%), and suicidal thoughts in 9.8% (3.2%) (p < 0.001). Acne patients demonstrated the highest anxiety and depression subscale scores (mean ± standard deviation: 7.1 ± 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.58-7.56; controls: 5 ± 0.23, 95% CI: 4.57-5.49). In rosacea 30% of the patients had depression symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 7.216, 95% CI: 4.122-12.632, p < 0.001), while in folliculitis patients 15.4% (OR: 3.138, 95% CI: 1.241-7.936, p = 0.016) had suicidal thoughts. Patients with anxiety symptoms and suicidal thoughts were on average younger than those without (28.3 ± 0.76 vs. 31.2 ± 0.66 years, p = 0.001 and 25.3 ± 0.98 vs. 30.5 ± 0.55 years, p = 0.007, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Acne and rosacea are associated with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in Lithuanian patients. Younger patients are more prone to report such symptoms than older ones.

© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Language: en

Keywords

Acne; Anxiety; Depression; Folliculitis; Perioral dermatitis; Rosacea; Suicide