PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS AND TINEA VERSICOLOR A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Dr.M.Rajasundari; Dr.Geetha.A.

Volume : VII, Issue : IX, September - 2018

PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS AND TINEA VERSICOLOR A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Dr. M. Rajasundari, Dr. Geetha. A.

Abstract :

Background: Psycho–dermatology is a collaborate field of activity that is based on the relationship and interaction between Psychiatry and Dermatology, and in practice this collaboration may have different application. To assess the prevalence of the Psychiatric morbidity in patients with Psoriasis, to correlate them with stressors, personality profile and physical variables, to compare them with patients with Tinea versicolor and to know their clinical relevance.

Method: Patients should fulfill the criteria for Psoriasis and Tinea Vesicolor, according to International classification of Disease – 10^th Revision, included as cases and controls respectively. The tools used to evaluate the patients were 1.Proforma, 2.Mini–International Neuro psychiatric Interview, 3. Socio–economic status scale, 4. Presumptive Stressful life events scale, 5.Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, 6. Eysenck’s Personality questionnaire, 7.Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 8. Psoriasis Areas and Severity Index (PASI).

Results: From this study, it has been found that psychiatric morbidity is higher in psoriasis patients. Depression and anxiety disorder are the common psychiatric illness in them. Psoriasis patients had high neuroticism and higher total hostility. Higher psychosocial stressors may predispose to psychiatric illness, our study show significant increase in psychiatric morbidity in those with higher psychosocial stressors and life events.

Conclusion: Based on the findings in our study, it is understandable that dermatological patients have a high risk of psychiatric illness and when emotional factors are not addressed adequately, the morbidity of these patients may increase. Early recognition and treatment of psychiatric illness by involving Psychiatrist as a team member in the dermatology clinic may lead to a better outcome. Further studies to characterize pattern of psychiatric morbidity and their impact on daily living and longitudinal studies to observe improvement with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are necessary.