Citation

Hernández MJG, Doblado SR. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 1999; 90(9): 411-415.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Psychodermatology is about the study of dermatologic patients with a psychological or psychiatric component. Though suicidal rates are low in dermatological patients as compared with those of other medical specialities (for example rheumatic, neurologic and oncologic patients), suicidal thinkings can be present in some diseases and thus they constitute a risk group that dermatologist must take into account. Early diagnosis of depressive symptoms and suicidal thinkings is important in: a) primary psychiatric disorders with dermatologic manifestations (atypical face pain, glosodynia and other depressive equivalents with cutaneous signs); b) severe acne, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis; c) whatever chronic dermatological disease highly inaesthetic, invalidant or which limits patient's quality of life; d) patients in an age group with high epidemiological risk of suicide, and, e) skin cancer. Among some recommended therapeutical measures there are: liason psychiatrist intervention; use of antidepressant drugs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, SSRIs) and basic support psychotherapy, that in some cases may be directed by the very dermatologist.

Language: es

Keywords

Chronicity; Depression; Psychodermatology; Quality-of-life; Suicide