Psychiatric Morbidity of Anxiety and Depression among Patients with Acne

Satish Kumar Sinha; Niska Sinha; Krishna Kumar Singh

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

Psychiatric Morbidity of Anxiety and Depression among Patients with Acne

Satish Kumar Sinha, Niska Sinha, Krishna Kumar Singh

Abstract :

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder and has a high prevalence among adolescents and young adults, which is also a period of psychological instability.

Aims & Objectives:To assess the presence of anxiety and depression among acne vulgaris patients and study their correlations with the severity of acne. Methods: 80 patients with a diagnosis of acne vulgaris in ANMCH, Gaya were assessed using purposive sampling for data collection and compared with matched healthy controls for presence of anxiety and depression using HAM–A and HAM–D to assess anxiety and depression respectively. Severity of acne was assessed using Global Acne severity (GEA) scale and was correlated with anxiety and depression.

Results: Majority of patients with Acne were mild (34%) to moderate (32%) in severity with a mean Global Acne Severity (GEA) score 2.58 ±1.05. Both anxiety and depression was significantly higher in the acne patient group as compared to healthy controls. There was significant correlation of severity of acne withseverity of both anxiety and depression.

Conclusion: The high psychiatric morbidity in acne patients indicates a need for regular liaison between Dermatologists and Psychiatrists in order to introduce evidence based interventions to screen and treat anxiety,depression for good care of this vulnerable population.