Psychiatric Comorbidity and Psychosocial Impairments in Children with Dermatologic Disorders

Objective: Few studies have explored the psychiatric comorbidity, psychological and social factors in the field of pediatric psycho-dermatology, thus the literature about children and adolescents is limited. In this study, we aimed to find out the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric comorbidity and to investigate the impacts of dermatological problems on psychological well-being, school performance, self-esteem in children suffering from dermatologic disorders. Method: In total, 247 consecutive outpatients with different dermatologic disorders aged 4–17 years (143 (52.9%) females, mean age 11.81±3.40 years) were included in this study. A semi-constructed diagnosis interview and The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMS-5) criteria were performed to establish a psychiatric diagnosis according to the age range of the child and adolescent. A specially prepared personal information sheet, Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were applied. Results: The prevalence of psychopathology was found to be 58.7% in our study population. The most common psychiatric comorbidities were anxiety disorders, mood disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and disruptive behavior disorders. Dermatologic diagnoses were divided into 8 groups. The riskiest dermatologic diagnostic groups in terms of psychopathology, self-esteem, body appreciation anxiety, academic performance, social isolation, stigmatization, significant association with psychosocial stressors at onset and/or exacerbation were psoriasis, primary psychiatric disorders, pigmentation disorders and hair disorders. Conclusions: Psychiatric comorbidity is quite common (58.7%) in the pediatric population with dermatologic disorders. The impacts upon the psychosocial functioning of dermatologic conditions are also enormous. Both dermatologists and child and adolescent psychiatrists should be well aware of psychiatric disturbance or psychosocial impairment, and patients should be meticulously assessed for psychiatric support.