Citation

Chatrath S, Lei D, Yousaf M, Chavda R, Gabriel S, Silverberg JI. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2022; 87(3): 582-591.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jaad.2022.04.061

PMID

35551964

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with eczematous lesions, pruritus, pain, and sleep disturbance, which may negatively impact mental health over time.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictors and longitudinal course of depressive symptoms in adults with AD.

METHODS: A prospective, dermatology practice-based study was performed (N = 695). AD signs, symptoms, and severity and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were assessed.

RESULTS: At baseline, of the 695 participants, 454 (65.32%) had minimal, 139 (20.00%) had mild, 57 (8.20%) had moderate, 27 (3.88%) had moderately severe, and 8 (2.59%) had severe depression. Most had fluctuating levels of depressive symptoms. Feeling bad, thoughts of self-harm, difficulty concentrating, and slow movement were most persistent. Predictors of persistent depression included older age, non-White race, male sex, public or no insurance, more severe itch, skin pain, facial erythema, nipple eczema, sleep disturbance, and presence of pityriasis alba. LIMITATIONS: Single center study.

CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms are closely related to and fluctuate with AD severity over time. Improved control of AD signs and symptoms, particularly itch, may secondarily improve mental health.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Adult; Male; Severity of Illness Index; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; depression; longitudinal; psychology; pruritus; eczema; atopic dermatitis; prospective; Pain/diagnosis; *Dermatitis, Atopic/complications/diagnosis/epidemiology; *Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology/etiology; Depression/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology; emotional; Pruritus/diagnosis